U.S. patent application number 12/978025 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-30 for mobile device, display control program, and display control method.
This patent application is currently assigned to KYOCERA CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Takashi HATA.
Application Number | 20110157057 12/978025 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44186889 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110157057 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HATA; Takashi |
June 30, 2011 |
MOBILE DEVICE, DISPLAY CONTROL PROGRAM, AND DISPLAY CONTROL
METHOD
Abstract
A mobile device comprising a first touch panel and a second
touch panel for displaying images is disclosure. A decision module
is operable to indicate a touch condition, if a touch position on a
first touch panel is changed to a predefined direction toward a
second touch panel, and if a touch is detected on both the first
touch panel and the second touch panel. A display control module is
operable to display at least some of an image displayed on the
second touch panel on the first touch panel in response to the
touch condition.
Inventors: |
HATA; Takashi; (Osaka,
JP) |
Assignee: |
KYOCERA CORPORATION
Kyoto
JP
|
Family ID: |
44186889 |
Appl. No.: |
12/978025 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1692 20130101;
G06F 1/1681 20130101; G06F 3/04886 20130101; G06F 3/0485 20130101;
H04L 51/08 20130101; G06F 3/04883 20130101; G06F 3/0488
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/173 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 24, 2009 |
JP |
2009-293421 |
Claims
1. A mobile device comprising a first touch panel and a second
touch panel for displaying images, the mobile device comprising: a
decision module operable to indicate a touch condition, if a touch
position on the first touch panel is changed to a predefined
direction toward the second touch panel and a touch position on the
second touch panel is changed to a predefined direction toward the
f touch panel, and if a touch is detected on both the first touch
panel and the second touch panel; and a display control module
operable to display at least some of an image displayed on the
second touch panel on the first touch panel and display at least
some of an image displayed on the first touch panel on the second
touch panel in response to the touch condition.
2. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein: the first touch
panel and the second touch panel has an approximately rectangular
display area respectively; and the predefined direction toward the
second touch panel is a direction toward one side in a close
vicinity of the second touch panel and predefined direction toward
the first touch panel is a direction toward one side in a close
vicinity of the first touch panel when both the first touch panel
and the second touch panel are arranged side by side on
approximately a same plane.
3. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein: the display
control module is further operable to display on the first touch
panel in place of a previous image displayed on the first touch
panel, an entire image displayed on the second touch panel or on
the second touch panel in place of a previous image displayed on
the second touch panel, an entire image displayed on the first
touch panel before the touch condition occurs, if the touch
condition occurs.
4. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the touch
condition further comprises a requirement that: the touch position
is changed on the first touch panel in a vector direction
approximately perpendicular to one side of the first touch panel
for a specific amount or more per unit of time, wherein the one
side is in a vicinity of the second touch panel, and the touch
position is changed on the second touch panel in a vector direction
approximately perpendicular to one side of the second touch panel
for a specific amount or more per unit of time, wherein the one
side is in a vicinity of the first touch panel.
5. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the touch
condition further comprises a requirement that a distance between
respective positions at which touch is released on the first touch
panel and one side in a vicinity of the second touch panel falls
within a predefined value and a distance between respective
positions at which touch is released on the second touch panel and
one side in a vicinity of the first touch panel falls within a
predefined value.
6. The mobile device according to claim 1, further comprising: a
storage module operable to store position identification
information for indentifying a displayed position on the first
touch panel and the second touch panel for each icon; a process
execution module operable to execute a process assigned to each
icon when a first touch is released at the displayed position, if a
second touch is detected only on one of the first touch panel and
the second touch panel; and an update module operable to update the
position identification information such that a respective icon
display position indicates a position on a different touch panel,
if the touch condition is met, wherein when the touch condition is
met, the display control module causes the first touch panel and
the second touch panel to perform a display based on the position
identification information updated by the update module.
7. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the display
control module is operable to cause the first touch panel to
display an image in which the at least some of the image displayed
on the second touch panel is enlarged, in place of the image
displayed on the first touch panel, if the touch condition
occurs.
8. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the touch
condition further comprises a requirement wherein: a first move of
the touch position on the first touch panel in a first direction
toward the second touch panel occurs for a period of time; and a
second move of a second touch on the second touch panel in a second
direction toward the first touch panel occurs substantially
simultaneously with the first move.
9. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the touch
condition further comprises a requirement that: the touch position
is changed on the first touch panel in a vector direction
perpendicular to one side of the first touch panel for a specific
amount or more, wherein the one side is in a vicinity of the second
touch panel, and the touch position is changed on the second touch
panel in a vector direction perpendicular to one side of the second
touch panel for a specific amount or more, wherein the one side is
in a vicinity of the first touch panel.
10. A display control method for a mobile device comprising a first
touch panel and a second touch panel for displaying images, the
method comprising: indicating a touch condition, if a touch
position on a first touch panel is changed to a predefined
direction toward a second touch panel, and if a touch is detected
on both the first touch panel and the second touch panel; and
displaying at least some of an image displayed on the second touch
panel on the first touch panel in response to the touch
condition.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein: the first touch
panel has an approximately rectangular display area; and the
predefined direction is a direction toward one side in a close
vicinity of the second touch panel when both the first touch panel
and the second touch panel are arranged side by side on
approximately a same plane.
12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising displaying
on the first touch panel in place of a previous image displayed on
the first touch panel, an entire image displayed on the second
touch panel before the touch condition occurs, if the touch
condition occurs.
13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the touch condition
further comprises a requirement that: the touch position is moved
on the first touch panel in a vector direction approximately
perpendicular to one side of the first touch panel, wherein the one
side is in a vicinity of the second touch panel; and the vector
direction is changed so the touch position is moved on the first
touch panel in a direction toward one side of the first touch panel
for a specific amount per unit of time.
14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the touch condition
further comprises a requirement that a distance between respective
positions at which touch is released on the first touch panel and
one side in a vicinity of the second touch panel falls within a
predefined value.
15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: storing
position identification information for identifying a displayed
position on the first touch panel and the second touch panel for
each icon; executing a process assigned to each icon when touch is
released at the displayed position, if a touch is detected only on
one of the first touch panel and the second touch panel; and
updating the position identification information such that a
respective icon display position indicates a position on a
different touch panel, if the touch condition is met, wherein when
the touch condition is met, a display control module causes the
first touch panel to perform a display based on the position
identification information updated by an update module.
16. The mobile device according to claim 15, wherein the position
identification information is updated at a time selected from one
of before the touch condition is met, and after the touch condition
is met.
17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising displaying
an image on the first touch panel in which at least some of the
image displayed on the second touch panel is enlarged, in place of
the image displayed on the first touch panel, if the touch
condition occurs.
18. The method according to claim 10, wherein the touch condition
further comprises a requirement wherein: a first move of the touch
position on the first touch panel in a first direction toward the
second touch panel occurs for a period of time; and a second move
of a second touch on the second touch panel in a second direction
toward the first touch panel occurs substantially simultaneously
with the first move.
19. A computer readable medium comprising program code for
operating a mobile device comprising a first touch panel and a
second touch panel for displaying images, the program code
comprising: indicating a touch condition, if a touch position on a
first touch panel is changed to a predefined direction toward a
second touch panel, and if a touch is detected on both the first
touch panel and the second touch panel; and displaying at least
some of an image displayed on the second touch panel on the first
touch panel in response to the touch condition.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-293421, filed on
Dec. 24, 2009, entitled "MOBILE DEVICE and DISPLAY CONTROL
PROGRAM", the content of which is incorporated by reference herein
in its entirety.
FIELD
[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to mobile
devices such as cell phones comprising a plurality of touch panels,
and more particularly relate to enhancements to a user interface of
cell phones comprising a plurality of touch panels.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Mobile devices that perform processing based on inputs via
two touch panels are known. Moreover, there are mobile devices that
enhance their portability by opening and/or closing to change
shape, such as a sliding type. For such mobile devices, in a closed
state, a size of their housings can be reduced. When a mobile
device comprising two touch panels A and B is of the sliding type,
the state of the mobile device can change from a closed state to an
open state, and each of the touch panels can be arranged such that
the two touch panels A and B are visible. When the state changes
from an open state to a closed state, only the touch panel A is
visible and the respective touch panels can be arranged such that
the touch panel B is hidden in a background.
[0004] With such a mobile device, when a user is looking at images
displayed on the two touch panels, namely A and B, in an open state
the user may think the display is sufficient as long as he/she can
continue looking at the image on the touch panel A only, and the
mobile device can reduce the size by changing the state into a
closed state. However, if the user wants to continue looking at the
image on the touch panel B only, there may be a problem in which
the mobile device cannot reduce its size by changing its state to a
closed state.
[0005] Moreover, even when the mobile device is of a straight type,
with no changes in the state due to closing/opening, a problem may
arise, for example, when there is a difference in the performance
between the touch panels A and B, etc. The difference in the
performance may comprise, for example but without limitation, the
size of display areas, the difference in display colors (full color
and monochromatic), and the like. However, there may be a problem
in which images displayed on low-performance touch panels cannot be
enlarged or displayed in full color, unlike images displayed on
high-performance touch panels.
SUMMARY
[0006] A mobile device comprising a first touch panel and a second
touch panel for displaying images is disclosure. A decision module
is operable to indicate a touch condition, if a touch position on a
first touch panel is changed to a predefined direction toward a
second touch panel, if a touch is detected on both the first touch
panel and the second touch panel. A display control module is
operable to display at least some of an image displayed on the
second touch panel on the first touch panel in response to the
touch condition.
[0007] In an embodiment, a mobile device comprises a first touch
panel and a second touch panel for displaying images. A decision
module is operable to indicate a touch condition, if a touch
position on a first touch panel is changed to a predefined
direction toward a second touch panel, and if a touch is detected
on both the first touch panel and the second touch panel. A display
control module is operable to display at least some of an image
displayed on the second touch panel on the first touch panel in
response to the touch condition.
[0008] In another embodiment, a display control method for a mobile
device comprising a first touch panel and a second touch panel for
displaying images. A touch condition is indicated, if a touch
position on a first touch panel is changed to a predefined
direction toward a second touch panel, and if a touch is detected
on both the first touch panel and the second touch panel. At least
some of an image is displayed on the second touch panel on the
first touch panel in response to the touch condition.
[0009] In yet another embodiment, a computer readable medium
comprising program code for operating a mobile device comprising a
first touch panel and a second touch panel for displaying images.
The program code comprises indicating a touch condition, if a touch
position on a first touch panel is changed to a predefined
direction toward a second touch panel, and if a touch is detected
on both the first touch panel and the second touch panel. The
program code comprises displaying at least some of an image
displayed on the second touch panel on the first touch panel in
response to the touch condition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Embodiments of the present disclosure are hereinafter
described in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like
numerals denote like elements. The figures are provided for
illustration and depict exemplary embodiments of the present
disclosure. The figures are provided to facilitate understanding of
the present disclosure without limiting the breadth, scope, scale,
or applicability of the present disclosure. The drawings are not
necessarily made to scale.
[0011] FIG. 1 (a) is a perspective view showing a cell phone in a
closed state.
[0012] FIG. 1 (b) is a perspective view showing a cell phone in an
open state.
[0013] FIG. 1 (c) is a front view showing the appearance of a cell
phone in an open state.
[0014] FIG. 2 is an example of images displayed on each touch panel
on a cell phone.
[0015] FIG. 3 is an example of images displayed on each touch panel
on a cell phone after the interchange operation.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the functional
block diagram of a cell phone.
[0017] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a coordinate system for
operation control.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the control process of a
cell phone.
[0019] FIG. 7 is an example of images displayed on each touch panel
of a cell phone.
[0020] FIG. 8 is the screens to be displayed on each touch panel of
a cell phone after the interchange operation.
[0021] FIG. 9 (a) is a perspective view showing the folding-type
cell phone in a open state.
[0022] FIG. 9 (b) is a perspective view showing the folding-type
cell phone in a open state.
[0023] FIG. 9 (c) is a perspective view showing the folding-type
cell phone in a closed state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The following description is presented to enable a person of
ordinary skill in the art to make and use the embodiments of the
disclosure. The following detailed description is exemplary in
nature and is not intended to limit the disclosure or the
application and uses of the embodiments of the disclosure.
Descriptions of specific devices, techniques, and applications are
provided only as examples. Modifications to the examples described
herein will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to
other examples and applications without departing from the spirit
and scope of the disclosure. Furthermore, there is no intention to
be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the
preceding field, background, summary or the following detailed
description. The present disclosure should be accorded scope
consistent with the claims, and not limited to the examples
described and shown herein.
[0025] Embodiments of the disclosure are described herein in the
context of one practical non-limiting application, namely, a mobile
phone. Embodiments of the disclosure, however, are not limited to
such mobile phones, and the techniques described herein may also be
utilized in other applications. For example, embodiments may be
applicable to, digital books, digital cameras, electronic game
machines, digital music players, personal digital assistance (PDA),
personal handy phone system (PHS), lap top computers, and the
like.
[0026] As would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art
after reading this description, these are merely examples and the
embodiments of the disclosure are not limited to operating in
accordance with these examples. Other embodiments may be utilized
and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope
of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0027] A cell phone is described below as an embodiment of a mobile
phone/device according to the present disclosure.
[0028] A cell phone 100 comprises two touch panels. Using the two
touch panels, as a user performs a specific operation (hereinafter
referred to as "interchange operation"), images displayed on the
respective touch panel are interchanged with each other and
displayed on the respective touch panel.
[0029] FIG. 1 (a) is a perspective view showing the cell phone 100
in a closed state. FIG. 1 (b) is a perspective view showing the
cell phone 100 in an open state. FIG. 1 (c) is a front view showing
the appearance of the cell phone 100 in an open state.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 1 (a)-(c), the cell phone 100 is of a
sliding-type wherein a first housing 1 and a second housing 2 can
move relative to each other. The first housing 1 and the second
housing 2 are coupled to connection mechanisms 4 and 4'.
[0031] The first housing 1 comprises a touch panel 110, a speaker
7, and a microphone 8. The second housing 2 comprises a touch panel
120.
[0032] As shown in the FIG. 1(a) and (b), the connection mechanism
4 comprises, a connection piece 5 and pins 30 and 31 for connecting
the side surface of the first housing 1 and the side surface of the
second housing 2 with each other. The connection mechanism 4' also
comprises a connection piece 5' and pins 30' and 31' for connecting
the side surface of the first housing 1 and the side surface of the
second housing 2 with each other. Here, the pins 30' and 31' are
not shown in the Figures. The pins 30 and 30' are pivoted on the
first housing 1. The pins 31 and 31' are slidably engaged into the
second housing 2.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 1 (a) and (b), on the side surface of the
second housing 2 comprising the connection mechanism 4, a guide
trough 6 is installed such that the pin 31 becomes slidable. On the
side surface of the second housing 2 comprising the connection
mechanism 4' as well, in a similar fashion, a guide trough 6' is
installed such that the pin 31' becomes slidable.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the cell phone 100 in a closed state
in which the first housing 1 is overlapped on the second housing 2
so as to make the touch panel 120 invisible, as the pins 31 and 31'
slide along the guide trough 6 and 6' with the connection
mechanisms 4 and 4', the first housing 1 moves along the surface of
the second housing 2. Subsequently, as the pins 30 and 30' rotate
around the pins 31 and 31' respectively, as shown in FIG. (b) and
(c), it reaches an open state in which the surface of the first
housing 1 and the surface of the second housing 2 are aligned on a
nearly same plane, thus, the touch panels 110 and 120 become
visible.
[0035] Next, an example of operation to interchange screens
displayed on the two touch panels is described with reference to
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.
[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of images displayed on the
respective touch panel on the cell phone 100, and how a user
performs the interchange operation for the respective touch panel.
FIG. 3 illustrates the images to be displayed on each touch panel
on the cell phone 100 after the interchange operation.
[0037] FIG. 2 shows an example in which a list of folders and a
list of emails in an inbox (hereinafter referred to as "email list
screen") are displayed on the touch panel 110 while the details of
the email located on the top of the email list (hereinafter
referred to as "a email content screen") is displayed on the touch
panel 120.
[0038] The email content screen comprises an icon 10 while the
email list screen comprises icons 11 and 12. In this document, "an
icon" is defined as a symbol that executes a computer
program/process in response to receiving a touch from the user's
fingers, and the like on a display thereon. In addition, the action
in which a user touches an icon with his/her fingers, etc., is
called selecting an icon.
[0039] When a user selects the icon 10 comprised in the email
content screen, a process is executed to display a reply
composition screen with respect to the received email being
displayed. In addition, when the user selects the icon 11, a
process is executed to display a list of emails in the folder
corresponding to the position on which the user touched with
his/her fingers (either one of the inbox folder, the sent folder,
or the draft folder), and when the user selects the icon 12, a
process is executed to display the content of the email
corresponding the position on which the user touched with his/her
fingers (the email content screen) onto the touch panel 110.
[0040] As described above when the cell phone 100 is in an open
state, the touch panels 110 and 120 are visible; however, when the
state is changed from the open state to a closed state, only the
touch panel 110 becomes visible.
[0041] Therefore, if the user wants to continue looking up the
email content screen displayed on the touch panel 120 after
changing the cell phone 100 into the closed state, for example, by
changing the cell phone 100 from the open state to the closed state
after performing the interchange operation described below, the
user can continue referencing the email content screen even after
changing the cell phone 100 into the closed state.
[0042] FIG. 2 shows how a user manipulating the touch panel 110 in
conjunction with manipulating the touch panel 120. The user touches
the touch panel 110 with his/her index finger while also touching
the touch panel 120 with his/her thumb. The user tries to start
moving his/her index finger toward a side A of the touch panel 110
while trying to start moving his/her thumb toward a side B of the
touch panel 120. The side A is a side of the touch panel 110 in the
vicinity of the touch panel 120. The side B is a side of the touch
panel 120 in the vicinity of the touch panel 110. Hereafter, to
move the fingers, etc., while touching is also called to
"drag".
[0043] In this document, the interchange operation means a series
of operations in which a user drags his/her index finger touching
the touch panel 110 toward the side A at a specific speed, and at
the same time drags his/her thumb touching the touch panel 120
toward the side B at a specific speed, and releases his/her index
finger at a position in the vicinity of the side A and his/her
thumb at a position in the vicinity of the side B, respectively.
The conditions including the dragging speed or the position at
which fingers are released are described below with reference to
FIG. 6.
[0044] As this interchange operation is performed, as shown in FIG.
3, the cell phone 100 displays the email list screen which was
displayed on the touch panel 110 before the interchange operation
on the touch panel 120, and displays the email content screen which
was displayed on the touch panel 120 before the interchange
operation on the touch panel 110.
[0045] Hence a user can perform the interchange operation to
interchange the screens displayed on the respective touch panel
with each other to be displayed on the respective touch panel.
Therefore, even if the state of the cell phone 100 is changed from
an open state to a closed state, the user can continue looking at
the email content screen in the aforementioned example.
[0046] In addition, as described above, by performing the operation
as if pinching the two touch panels (interchange operation), the
screens displayed on each touch panel can be interchanged with each
other to be displayed on the respective touch panel, and intuitive
operability is achieved.
[0047] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram illustrating the functional
block diagram of the cell phone 100 according to an embodiment of
the disclosure. The cell phone 100 comprises the touch panels 110
and the touch panel 120, a touching information storage 130, a
position storage 131, and a controller 140. The cell phone 400 may
have functions, material, and structures that are similar to the
embodiments shown in FIG. 1. Therefore common features, functions,
and elements may not be redundantly described here.
[0048] The controller 140 comprises, a storage module 141, a
decision module 142, an update module, a display control module
144, and a processor module 145 (processor execution module
145).
[0049] The touch panel 110 comprises a display module 111 and an
input module 112. The touch panel 120 comprises a display module
121 and an input module 122.
[0050] Each display module comprises an LCD (Liquid Crystal
Display) and is a circuit to display images such as letters and
icons on the LCD instructed by the controller 140. The number of
pixels (horizontal.times.vertical) per LCD may be 800.times.480
pixels.
[0051] Each input section is also a circuit that detects touching
by users, and while detecting, the coordinate value (x, y) of the
touched position sends to the controller 140 per unit of time (for
example, 25 ms).
[0052] The coordinate value for the left upper apex of the
respective touch panel is set to be (0, 0) and the coordinate value
for the right lower apex is set to be (799, 479) in the following
example. In addition, the respective input module is, for example,
a capacitance-type touch sensor.
[0053] The touching information storage 130 is a storage area for
storing the time and coordinate value when touching is started on
the respective touch panel (hereinafter referred to as "touching
start information") and for storing the time and coordinate value
when the touching is released (hereinafter referred to as "touching
end information"). The position storage 131 is a storage area for
storing the coordinate value indicating the displayed position for
every icon displayed on the respective touch panel. The coordinate
value indicating the display position for the icon has a pair of
coordinate values for the left upper corner and the right lower
corner of a rectangular area containing the icon.
[0054] The coordinate value stored in the touching information
storage 130, position storage 131, and/or storage module 141
comprises a coordinate value in the coordinate system for operation
control described below (hereinafter referred to "logical
coordinate value").
[0055] The controller 140 comprises, the storage module 141, a
decision module 142, a update module 143, a display control module
144, and a processor module 145. The controller 140 is configured
to support functions of the cell phone 100. For example, the
controller 140 may control operations of the cell phone 100 so that
a function to interchange and display screens on the respective
touch panel 110/120 in response to the interchange operation by the
user of the cell phone 100 is suitably performed. The controller
140 may also control operations of, for example but without
limitation, the microphone 8, the touch panels 110 and 120, and the
like.
[0056] Thus, the controller 140 executes various functions
(applications) such as the phone call function, e-mail function,
etc. Furthermore, the controller 140 controls, for example but
without limitation, transmission/reception of signals, display of
images by the display control module 144, and the like. In an
embodiment, the controller 140 generates a display screen to be
displayed on each of the touch panels 110 and the touch panel 120
within the work area provisioned in the storage module 141, and
outputs an image signal for configuring the display module 111.
[0057] The controller 140, may be implemented or realized with a
general purpose processor, a content addressable memory, a digital
signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a
field programmable gate array, any suitable programmable logic
device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware
components, or any combination thereof, designed to perform the
functions described herein. In this manner, a processor may be
realized as a microprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, a
state machine, or the like.
[0058] A processor/controller may also be implemented as a
combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a digital
signal processor and a microprocessor, a plurality of
microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a
digital signal processor core, or any other such configuration. In
practice, the controller 140 comprises processing logic that is
configured to carry out the functions, techniques, and processing
tasks associated with the operation of cell phone 100 such as
performing control based on the detected touch to prevent reception
of the detected input (non-operating state) based on a
predetermined deactivating operation as explained in more detail
below.
[0059] The storage module 141 is configured to associate a time and
logical coordinate value when touching starts (touching start
information) with the time and logical coordinate value when the
touching is released (touching end information). The touching
information is stored in the touching information storage 130 for
each touch panel 110/120, based on the receipt of a coordinate
value (hereinafter referred to as "a physical coordinate value")
sent from the respective touch panel. The time (e.g., 1 ms) is
obtained using a value obtained as needed from a clock module (not
shown). The storage module 141 stores the touching start
information when touching starts on the respective touch panel
110/120 and the touching end information when the touching is
released individually into the touching information storage module
130.
[0060] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a coordinate system for
operation control according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the
coordinate system for operation control comprises a coordinate
system defining the left upper corner of the touch panel 110 as a
coordinate value of (0, 0), wherein the x axis is provided in the
right direction and the y axis in the down direction as shown in
FIG. 5.
[0061] FIG. 5 shows an example of coordinate values in the
coordinate system for operation control in which the touch panel
110 has the coordinate value (799, 0) for the right upper corner,
the coordinate value (0, 479) for the left lower corner, and the
coordinate value (799,479) for the right lower corner, while the
touch panel 120 has the coordinate value (0, 480) for the left
upper corner, the coordinate value (799, 480) for the right upper
corner, the coordinate value (0, 959) for the left lower corner and
the coordinate value (799, 959) for the right lower corner.
[0062] Therefore, since physical coordinate values received from
the touch panel 110 are matched with logic coordinate values in the
coordinate system for operation control, the storage module 141
uses the physical coordinate values received from the touch panel
110 as the logical coordinate values in the coordinate system for
operation control without any change. On the other hand, if
physical coordinate values are received from the touch panel 120,
the storage module 141 adds "480" to the y coordinates of the
received physical coordinate values to use as logical coordinate
values in the coordinate system for operation control.
[0063] Moreover, the controller 140 associates the logical
coordinate values ranging from (0, 0) to (799, 479) with the touch
panel 110 and associates the logical coordinate values ranging from
(0, 480) to (799, 959) with the touch panel 120 to manage
those.
[0064] The decision module 142 is configured to decide whether the
operation performed on the respective touch panel 110/120 is either
the screen interchange operation, the screen scrolling operation,
or the icon selection operation based on the touching start
information and touching end information for each touch panel
stored in the touching information storage 130. Specific decision
conditions are described below in the context of discussion of FIG.
6 below.
[0065] Moreover, the decision module 142 manages the state
information. For example, the decision module 142 uses "0" for the
state in which the interchange is not performed, "1" for the state
in which the interchange is performed, and the default value when
the cell phone 100 is started etc., shall be set to "0". In this
manner, the decision module 142 indicates whether or not the screen
is interchanged on the above-mentioned storage, updates to "1" when
the state information is "0", and updates to "0" if the state
information is "1", whenever the operation performed on the
respective touch panel 110/120 is decided as the screen interchange
operation. This state information is communicated to each module
within the controller 140 such that each modules determines whether
or not it is in the state in which the screen interchange is
performed by referencing to the state information.
[0066] The update module 143 is configured to update the logical
coordinate values indicating the displayed position for each icon
(the coordinate value for the left upper corner and the coordinate
value for the right lower corner) to the logical coordinate values
after the interchange.
[0067] In other words, the logical coordinate values for an icon
displayed on the touch panel 110 are updated by adding "480" to the
y coordinates, while the logical coordinate values for an icon
displayed on the touch panel 120 is updated by subtracting "480"
from the y coordinates.
[0068] The display control module 144 is configured to display on
the display modules (111 and 121) of the respective touch panel 110
and 120 the screen according to the decision result from the
decision module 142, and a screen according to the process result
from the process execution module.
[0069] The display control module 144 manages a memory association
between the two areas, namely m1 and m2, in the aforementioned
storage that stores image data other than the icons constituting
the screens on the respective touch panel (hereinafter referred to
as "drawing data") and the respective touch panels 110 and 120.
[0070] The memory association is updated when the interchange
operation is performed to provide an updated memory association. In
other words, if the area m1 is associated with the touch panel 110
and the area m2 is associated with the touch panel 120, for
example, when the screen interchange operation is performed, the
memory association is updated to associate the area m1 with the
touch panel 120 and to associate the area m2 with the touch panel
110.
[0071] The display control module 144 displays the drawing data
stored in the storage area that is associated with the touch panel
110 on the touch panel 110 based on the updated memory association,
when the interchange operation is performed. The display control
module 144 also displays icons whose coordinate values are included
in a range of logical coordinate values (e.g., a rectangle from
point (0, 0) to point (799, 479)) that are associated with the
touch panel 110 on the touch panel 110, when the interchange
operation is performed. The icons are displayed based on the
logical coordinate values for each icon updated by the update
module 143.
[0072] In addition, the display control module 144 displays the
drawing data stored in the storage area that is associated with the
touch panel 120, and icons whose coordinate values are included in
the range, (0, 480) to (799, 959), of logical coordinate values
that are associated with the touch panel 120 onto the touch panel
120.
[0073] In this manner, the display control module 144 can display
the drawing data and icons that are displayed on the touch panel
110 before the interchange operation on the touch panel 120. In
addition, the display control module 144 can display the drawing
data and icons that were displayed on the touch panel 120 before
the interchange operation on the touch panel 110.
[0074] Moreover, the display control module 144 is also configures
to register logical coordinate values indicating displayed
positions of icons contained in the screen according to the process
result from the process execution module 145 into the position
storage 131.
[0075] The process execution module 145 is configured to execute a
process assigned to an icon when the icon is selected.
[0076] FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplary flowchart showing
a process 600 of the cell phone 100 an 300 for input via each touch
panel according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The various
tasks performed in connection with the process 600 may be performed
by software, hardware, firmware, a computer-readable medium having
computer executable instructions for performing the process method,
or any combination thereof. The process 600 may be recorded in a
computer-readable medium such as a semiconductor memory, a magnetic
disk, an optical disk, and the like, and can be accessed and
executed, for example, by a CPU such as the controller 140 in which
the computer-readable medium is stored.
[0077] It should be appreciated that process 600 may include any
number of additional or alternative tasks, the tasks shown in FIG.
6 need not be performed in the illustrated order, and process 600
may be incorporated into a more comprehensive procedure or process
having additional functionality not described in detail herein. For
illustrative purposes, the following description of process 600 may
refer to elements mentioned above in connection with FIGS. 1-5. In
practical embodiments, portions of process 600 may be performed by
different elements of the cell phone 100 and 400, for example, the
controller 140, a touch panel 110, the touch panel 120, the
touching information storage module 130, the position storage
module 131 etc. The process 600 may have functions, material, and
structures that are similar to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4.
Therefore common features, functions, and elements may not be
redundantly described here.
[0078] As a process independent of the control process shown in the
figure, a storage part 141 of the controller 140 stores the
touching start information when touching is started on the
respective panel and the touching end information when the touching
is released individually into the touching information storage 130.
In addition, the control process shown in the figure should be
executed repeatedly.
[0079] The decision module 142 decides whether or not touching with
fingers, etc., is released on either one of the touch panels
110/120, based on whether or not the touching end information is
stored in the touching information storage 130 by the storage
module 141 (Inquiry task S1), and when the storage module 141 does
not store the touching end information (NO branch of inquiry task
S1), the process in the inquiry task S1 is executed again.
[0080] However, if the storage module 141 has stored the touching
end information (Yes branch of inquiry task S1), the decision
module 142 decides whether or not touching with fingers, etc., on
the touch panel 120 is released during the period in which the
touch panel 110 is being touched with fingers, etc., based on the
information stored in the touching information storage 130 (inquiry
task S2).
[0081] More specifically, the decision module 142 provides positive
decision, for example, assuming that the touch panel related to the
detection in the inquiry task S1 is the touch panel 110, when the
time in the touching end information for the touch panel 120 is
included within the period from the time in the touching start
information to the time in the touching end information for the
touch panel 110 (YES branch of inquiry task S2). Moreover, when the
touching end information for the other touch panel 120 is not
stored in the touching information storage 130, decision module 142
would provide negative decision (NO branch of inquiry task S2).
[0082] During the period when one of the touch panel 110/120 is
being touched with fingers, etc., when the decision module 142
decides that touching with fingers, etc., is released on other
touch panel 110/120 (YES branch of inquiry task S2, based on each
information stored in the touching information storage 130, the
decision module 142 decides whether the drag speed va is equal to
or more than a specific value v1 (a positive value) for the
direction perpendicular to the side A of the touch panel, and
decides whether the drag speed vb is equal to or more than a
specific value v2 (a negative value) for the direction
perpendicular to the side B of the touch panel 120 (inquiry task
S3).
[0083] The drag speed in the respective touch panel 110/120 is a
value which is obtained by subtracting the y coordinate value in
the start end information from the y coordinate value in the
touching end information divided by the value which is obtained by
subtracting the time in the touching start information from the
time in the touching end information. The description below assumes
that v1 is "2" and that v2 is "-2" as one example.
[0084] If the drag speed va on the touch panel 110 is equal to or
more than a specific value v1 and the drag speed vb on the touch
panel 120 is equal to or more than a specific value v2 (YES branch
of inquiry task S3), the decision module 142 decides whether or not
both the distance on the y axis between the position at which
touching with fingers, etc., is released on the touch panel 110 and
the side A, and the distance on the y axis between the side B and
the position at which touching with fingers, etc., is released on
the touch panel 120 are equal to or less than a specific value
(e.g., 50), based on the touching end information for the
respective touch panel stored in the touching information storage
130 (inquiry task S4).
[0085] If the distance on the y axis between the position at which
touching with fingers, etc., is released on the touch panel 110 and
the side A, and the distance on the y axis between the side B and
the position at which touching with fingers, etc., is released on
the touch panel 120 are equal to or less than the specific value
(YES branch of inquiry task S4), the decision module 142 decides
that the operation performed in the respective touch panel is the
interchange operation and updates the state information, while the
update module 143 of the controller 140 updates the logical
coordinate values indicating the displayed position for each icon
stored in the position storage 131 to the logical coordinate values
after the screen interchange (task S5). In other words, the update
module 143 updates y coordinate values by adding "480" to the y
coordinates when the y coordinate values are within the range from
0 to 479 for each logical coordinate value stored in the position
storage 131 and updates y coordinate values by subtracting "480"
from the y coordinate values when the y coordinate values are
within the range from 480 to 959.
[0086] In addition, the display control module 144 of the
controller 140 interchanges the screen displayed on the display
module 111 of the touch panel 110 and the screen displayed on the
display module 121 of the touch panel 120 with each other and
displays on each display module (task S6). In other words, the
display control module 144 updates the association between the area
in which each drawing datum is stored and each touch panel 110/120,
and then displays the drawing data based on the association after
the update and the icons based on the coordinate values stored in
the position storage 131 after the update on the display module
111/121 of each touch panel 110/120 respectively.
[0087] When the screen interchange process is completed in the task
S6, the controller 140 deletes the touching start information and
the touching end information for each touch panel stored in the
touching information storage 130 to end the control process.
[0088] In addition, in the inquiry task S3, when the drag speed va
on the touch panel 110 is less than the specific value v1 or when
the drag speed vb on the touch panel 120 is more than the specific
value v2 (NO branch of inquiry task S3), and in the NO branch of
inquiry task S4, when at least one of the distance on the y axis
between the position at which touching with fingers, etc., is
released on the touch panel 110 and the side A, or the distance on
the y axis between the side B and the position at which touching
with fingers, etc., is released on the touch panel 120 is more than
the specific value (NO branch of inquiry task S3), the controller
140 ends the control process without interchanging the screens.
This is because if the decision conditions are not met in the
inquiry tasks S3 and S4, the operation performed by the user is
considered to be the one not intended to interchange the
screens.
[0089] On the other hand, in the inquiry task S2, when the decision
module 142 decides within the period during which one of the touch
panel 110/120 is being touched with fingers. etc., that touching
with fingers, etc., is not released on other one of touch panel
110/120 (NO branch of inquiry task S2), the decision module 142
decides, during the period during which one of the touch panel
110/120 is being touched with fingers etc., whether touching the
other one of the touch panel 110/120 with fingers etc. is started
or not (inquiry task S7).
[0090] More specifically, the decision module 142 provides positive
decision, when the time in the touching start information of other
touch panel is included between the time in the touching start
information and the time in the touching end information for the
touch panel that detects that touching is released in inquiry task
S1. Moreover, when the touching start information for other touch
panel is not stored in the touching information storage 130, the
decision module 142 provides negative decision (NO branch of
inquiry task S7).
[0091] When decision module 142 decides that within the period
during which one touch panel is being touched with fingers, etc.,
touching other touch panel with fingers is started (YES branch of
inquiry task S7), the controller 140 ends the process. This is
because the process 600 starts again from the inquiry task S1 to
perform the screen interchange process when touching the other
touch panel with fingers, etc., is released.
[0092] In addition, since it can be decided that the operation is
performed on only one touch panel when it is decided that within
the period during which one touch panel is being touched with
fingers, etc., touching other touch panel with fingers, etc., is
not started (NO branch of inquiry task S7), the decision module 142
decides whether the absolute value of the travel distance in the x
axis direction or the absolute value of the travel distance in the
y axis direction on the touch panel that detected touching is
released in task S1 is equal to or more than the specific value or
not (inquiry task S8).
[0093] More specifically, process 600 calculates a travel distance
(x2-x1, y2-y1) using the coordinate value (x2, y2) in the touching
end information and the coordinate value (x1, y1) in the touching
start information that are stored in the touching information
storage 130 for the touch panel that detected touching is released
in inquiry task S1, and when the absolute value of travel distance
in the x axis direction (|x2-x1|) or the absolute value of travel
distance in the y axis (|y2-y1|) is equal to or more than a
specific value (for example "10"), it provides positive decision
(YES branch of the inquiry task S8).
[0094] When the absolute value of travel distance in the x axis
direction or the absolute value of travel distance in the y axis
direction on the touch panel that detected that touching is
released in the inquiry task S1 is equal to or more than a specific
value (YES branch of inquiry task S8), the display control module
144 displays the screen displayed on the display section of the
touch panel by scrolling along the axis whose travel distance
absolute value is equal to or more than the specific value,
depending on the travel distance in the axis direction (task
S11).
[0095] The controller 140 deletes the touching start information
and the touching end information, which is stored in the touching
information storage 130, for the touch panel that detects touching
is release in the inquiry task S1 and ends the control process.
[0096] In the inquiry task S8, when the absolute value of travel
distance in the x axis direction and the absolute value of travel
distance in the y axis on the touch panel that detected touching is
released in the inquiry task S1 are less than the specific values
(NO branch of inquiry task S8), based on the logical coordinate
values (the coordinate value for left upper corner and the
coordinate value for right upper corner) for each icon stored in
the position storage 131, the decision module 142 decides whether
or not the coordinate values of the position at which touching is
released (the coordinate values in the touching end information)
are to be included in the displayed position of the icon (inquiry
task S9).
[0097] When the coordinate values of the position at which touching
is released are not included in the display position of the icon
(NO branch of inquiry task S9), it deletes the touching start
information and the touching end information, which is stored in
the touching information storage 130, for the touch panel that
detects that touching is released in inquiry task S1 and ends the
control process.
[0098] In addition, when the coordinate values of the position at
which touching is released are included in the display position of
the icon (YES branch of inquiry task S9), the process execution
module 145 executes the process assigned to the icon (task S10),
and deletes the touching start information and the touching end
information, which is stored in the touching information storage
130, for the touch panel that detected touching is released in
inquiry task S1 and ends the control process.
[0099] (1) In an embodiment as described above, when an interchange
operation is performed by a user, an image displayed on the display
module 111 of the touch panel 110 and an image displayed on the
display module 121 of the touch panel 120 are interchanged with
each other to be displayed on each display module as they are;
however, some of the image displayed may be enlarged to be
displayed. Hereinafter, the cell phone according to this
modification is referred to as "a modified cell phone".
[0100] FIG. 7 shows an example of images displayed on the
respective touch panels 110/120 of the cell phone 100 and how the
user performs the interchange operation for each touch panel, while
FIG. 8 shows the screens to be displayed on the respective touch
panels of the modified cell phone after the interchange
operation.
[0101] FIG. 7 shows an example in which the content of email in the
process of composition (hereinafter referred to as "email
composition screen") is displayed on the touch panel 110, and a
document to be attached to the email in the process of composition
(hereinafter referred to as "estimation screen") is displayed on
the touch panel 120.
[0102] Moreover, the email composition screen contains the icon 13
which executes a process to send an email when the user selects the
icon 13.
[0103] When the user performs the interchange operation, as shown
in FIG. 8, the cell phone 100 displays the email composition screen
onto the touch panel 120 and displays an enlarged screen at a
predetermined magnification (for example, two-fold) of some of the
estimation screen displayed on the touch panel 120 before the
interchange operation onto the touch panel 110. Here, an example in
which, when performing the interchange operation, the estimation
screen enlarged around the position at which the user starts
touching with his/her thumb on the touch panel 120 is displayed on
the touch panel 110 is shown.
[0104] Moreover, this example is described such that the screen
(the estimation screen) displayed on only the touch panel 120 is
enlarged and displayed on the touch panel 110; however, the screen
displayed on the touch panel 110 may be similarly enlarged and
displayed, or, for example, types of applications may be specified
regarding screens to be enlarged, and only when screens displayed
when the interchange operation is performed are the screens related
to the specified applications, they may be enlarged.
[0105] In addition, this example is described such that the screen
displayed is automatically enlarged and displayed as the
interchange operation is performed; however, it may be enlarged
only when the drag speed on the respective touch panels or the drag
distance (the distance between the position at which touching with
fingers, etc., is started and the position at which the touching is
released) is equal to or more than a threshold.
[0106] In addition, this example is described such that the screen
displayed is enlarged at a predetermined magnification; however, it
may be enlarged according to the drag distance or the drag
speed.
[0107] Moreover, the estimation screen displayed on the touch panel
120 in FIG. 7 is illustrated without any icon; however, if there is
any icon, when the interchange operation is performed, the logical
coordinate values for the icon must be updated.
[0108] An exemplary update process is described below.
[0109] As described above assuming the coordinate value for the
left upper corner is (xl, yl) and the coordinate value for the
right lower corner is (xr, yr) after subtracting "480" from the
coordinate value for the left upper corner and the coordinate value
for the right lower corner of an icon which are stored in the
position storage 131, first, the coordinate value for the central
point (xc, yc)=((xr+xl)/2, (yr+yl)/2) shall be calculated.
[0110] Subsequently, the coordinate value for the left upper corner
and the coordinate value for the right lower corner are updated to
enlarge the distance from the central point to the left upper
corner as well as to the right lower corner by the predefined
magnification of Z.
[0111] In other words, the coordinate value for the left upper
corner is updated to (xc-Zx(c-xl), yc-Zx(yc-yl)) and the coordinate
value for the right lower corner is updated to (xc+Zx(xr-xc),
yc+Zx(yr-yc)).
[0112] (2) Although the cell phone 100 according to the embodiment
is described as a sliding-type cell phone, it may be a cell phone
comprising other appearance such as a folding-type cell phone,
etc.
[0113] For example, the cell phone 100 may be a folding-type cell
phone 200 shown in FIG. 9 (a) to (c).
[0114] The cell phone 200 is configured such that the first housing
201 comprising the touch panel 210 and the second housing 202
comprising the touch panel 220 can be opened and/or closed with
each other.
[0115] As shown in FIG. 9 (a), the cell phone 200, by closing the
first housing 201 and the second housing with each other after the
first housing 201 is rotated 180 degree with respect to the second
housing as shown in FIG. 9 (b) and (c), from the state in which the
first housing 201 and the second housing 202 are opened with each
other and in which the respective touch panel is visible, the touch
panel 220 that the second housing 202 comprises is hidden behind
the first housing 201, and only the touch panel 210 that the first
housing 201 comprises becomes visible.
[0116] After a user performs the interchange operation for the
respective touch panel in the state shown in FIG. 9 (a), by
changing the state of the cell phone 200 as shown in FIG. 9 (b) and
(c), even when the cell phone 200 is in a closed state as shown in
FIG. 9 (c), the user can display the screen displayed on the touch
panel 220 before the interchange operation onto the touch panel 210
to look at the screen which was displayed on the touch panel
220.
[0117] In addition, this modification and the embodiment are
described using a cell phone enabling change in the state through
closing and/or opening as an example; however, these modifications
may be applied to a cell phone without any state change through
opening/closing, such as a straight type. These modifications may
be applied to the modified cell phone.
[0118] (3) Although the input module for each touch panel according
to the embodiment is described such that it is provided with a
capacitance-type touch sensor, for this capacitance-type touch
sensor, a proper type may be used such as a projection type in
which many electrode patterns are formed on a board made from such
as plastic, or glass, etc., and in which the electric current ratio
by a plurality of electrode patterns in the vicinity of a touching
point is measured for decision, or a surface type comprising a
conductive layer and a board in which electrodes are installed at
corners of the board, and in which an even electric field is formed
by the conductive layer, and in which the electric current ratio by
the corner terminals due to touching with fingers, etc., is
measured to decide a touching point, etc.
[0119] In addition, the input module on each touch panel 110/120 is
not limited to using the capacitance-type touch sensor, and the
input module may use, for example but without limitation, an
electromagnetic induction type using a specific pen such as an
electric pen, a matrix switch type comprising double-layered
structure of transparent electrodes, a resistance film type in
which applying voltage to one of two resistance films to detect the
voltage corresponding to the position of operation on other
resistance film, a surface elastic wave type which detects rebound
of elastic wave as voltage change in piezo elements to detect
touching of fingers, an infrared type which detects the position at
which it is being touched with fingers, by shielded infrared, a
light sensor type which detects the touching position by
incorporating light sensors on screens, and the like.
[0120] These modifications may be applied to the cell phone 100 or
to the cell phone 200.
[0121] (4) Although the cell phone 100 according to the embodiment
is described such that the touch panel 110 and the touch panel 120
are arranged one above the other on approximately the same plane
from the user point of view in a normal use state, they may be
arranged side by side. When the touch panel 110 is arranged on the
left side and the touch panel 120 on the right side, the coordinate
values in the coordinate system for operation control for the touch
panel 110 are not changed while the coordinate values in the
coordinate system for operation control for the touch panel 120 are
changed as follows.
[0122] In other words, for the touch panel 120, the coordinate
value for the left upper corner turns (800, 0), the coordinate
value for the right upper corner turns (1599, 0), the coordinate
value for the left lower corner turns (800, 479), and the
coordinate value for the right lower corner turns (1599, 479).
[0123] Therefore, when the interchange operation is performed, the
logical coordinate value for an icon displayed on the touch panel
110 is updated by adding "800" to the x coordinate value while the
logical coordinate value for an icon displayed on the touch panel
120 is updated by subtracting "800" from the x coordinate
value.
[0124] This modification may be applied to the cell phone 100 or
the cell phone 200.
[0125] (5) Although the cell phone 100 according to the embodiment
is described such that the touch panel 110 and the touch panel 120
are arranged on approximately the same plane in the open state as
shown in FIG. 1(c), it may be arranged in any mode as long as the
user can operate to meet the conditions for the interchange
operation.
[0126] For example, in an open state, the cell phone 100 may be
arranged such that the surface containing the touch panel 110 on
the first housing 1 and the surface containing the touch panel 120
on the second housing 2 are nearly parallel, or it may be arranged
such that an angle sufficient for fingers, etc., to touch on the
surfaces of the touch panels is created between the surface
containing the touch panel 110 on the first housing 1 and the
surface containing the touch panel 120 on the second housing 2.
[0127] In addition, although in the above embodiments the number of
pixels in LCD on the respective touch panel is same and the shape
of LCD is nearly rectangular, the number of pixels for each LCD may
be different and the shape of each LCD may be, for example but
without limitation, circular, other polygon, and the like, as long
as each LCD is in the mode in which a user can operate to meet the
conditions for the interchange operation.
[0128] This modification may be applied to the cell phone 100 or
the cell phone 200.
[0129] (6) With reference to FIG. 6, it is described such that in
order to reduce the possibility that the screens are interchanged
when the user performed an operation similar to the interchange
operation by mistake, when the decision conditions in the inquiry
tasks S3 and S4 are met, then the processes in the tasks S5 and S6
are executed; however, the decision in the inquiry task S3 and S4
may be not be used, and when the decision conditions in the inquiry
task S2 are met, the tasks S5 and S6 may be executed.
[0130] In addition, in the inquiry task S3, although it is
described such that the specific value V1 which is compared with
the drag speed va in a direction perpendicular to the side A on the
touch panel 110 shall be "2" while the specific value V2 which is
compared with the drag speed in a direction perpendicular to the
side B on the touch panel 120 shall be "-2", this is one example,
and V1 and V2 may be any other values.
[0131] In addition, in the inquiry task S4, it is described such
that both the specific value which is compared with the distance on
the y axis between the position at which touching with fingers,
etc., is released on the touch panel 110 and the side A, and the
specific value which is compared with the distance on the y axis
between the side B and the position at which touching with fingers,
etc., is released on the touch panel 120 shall be "50", however,
this is one example, and these may be any other values, or the
specific value which is compared with the distance on the y axis
between the position where touching with fingers, etc., is released
on the touch panel 110 and the side A may be different from the
specific value which is compared with the distance on the y axis
between the side B and the position at which touching with fingers,
etc., is released on the touch panel 120.
[0132] Moreover, at the time of starting using the cell phone 100
according to the embodiment, the specific values used in the
inquiry tasks S3 and 4 may be decided based on the result after the
user performed the interchange operations several times, or the
user may be allowed to set up any values.
[0133] Further, when the decision conditions in the inquiry task S2
are met, in place of the inquiry tasks S3 and 4, it may perform to
decide whether or not the touching position on the touch panel 110
is changed to a specific direction towards the touch panel 120 (for
example, the direction perpendicular to the side A), and whether or
not the touching position on the touch panel 120 is changed to a
specific direction towards the touch panel 110 (for example, the
direction perpendicular to the side B), and then to execute the
processes in the task S5 and S6 when this decision condition is
met. In other words, the screen interchange may be performed when
the touching position change to a specific direction toward each
other's touch panel on each touch panel occurs simultaneously.
[0134] In addition, if the decision conditions in the inquiry task
S2 are met, in place of the inquiry tasks S3 and 4, it may perform
to decide whether or not the touching position on the touch panel
110 is, regarding the vector in the direction perpendicular to one
side (for example the side A) in the vicinity of the touch panel
120, changed to the direction toward such one side for a specific
amount or more, and regarding the vector in the direction
perpendicular to one side (for example, the side B) in the vicinity
of the touch panel 110, the touching position on the touch panel
120 is changed to the direction toward such one side for a specific
amount or more or not, and to execute processes in the task S5 and
S6 when this decision condition is met. In other words, the screen
interchange may be performed when the touching position on each
touch panel is changed to the direction towards such one side for a
specific amount or more regarding the vector in the direction
perpendicular to one side close to each other's touch panel. This
modification may be applied to the cell phone 100 or the cell phone
200.
[0135] (7) Although the above embodiments are described using an
example in which the controller 140 manages and processes the
coordinate values on the touch panels 110 and 120 as logical
coordinate values in one coordinate system for operation control,
the controller 140 may manage and process using coordinate values
in individual xy coordinate system for every touch panel, i.e. the
physical coordinate values themselves. In this case, additional
information specifying the touch panel for every icon to be
displayed must be stored in the position storage 131, and when the
interchange operation is performed, the update module 143 shall
update this information to specify other touch panel. This
modification may be applied to the cell phone 100 or the cell phone
200.
[0136] (8) Among each component described in the embodiments
herein, all or some may be provided in one chip or multiple-chip
integrated circuits, or may be provided in computer programs, or
may be provided in any other fashion. These may be similarly
applied to the cell phone 200.
[0137] (9) The programs to instruct CPUs to execute the process for
input from the respective touch panel described in the embodiment
(with reference to FIG. 6) may be recorded on record media or
distributed and delivered via various types of communication paths,
etc. Such record media include IC cards, optical discs, flexible
discs, RCMs, and flash memory, etc. The distributed and delivered
programs may be used by storing in memory, etc., that can be read
by CPUs in devices, and the programs are executed by the CPUs to
provide each function of the cell phone 100/200/400. These may be
similarly applied tohe cell phone 200.
[0138] (10) The embodiments comprise a first and a second touch
panels 110/120 for displaying images, respectively; the decision
module 142 when touching is detected on both of the first and the
second touch panels 110/120, decides whether or not specific
conditions are met, including one in which a touching position on
the respective touch panel is changed to a predefined direction
toward the other touch panel, respectively, as a requirement; and a
display control module, when the decision module decides that the
specific conditions are met, displays at least some of the image
displayed on the other touch panel.
[0139] In an embodiment, when an operation meeting the specific
conditions are performed on each panel, at least some of the image
displayed on the other touch panel can be displayed on the
respective touch panel; hence, regarding the image displayed on one
panel, the benefit which is provided when it is displayed on other
touch panel can be realized.
[0140] For example, when the performance on the first touch panel
is higher than the performance on the second touch panel, the image
being displayed on the second touch panel can be displayed on the
first touch panel with higher performance by performing the
operation described above.
[0141] In addition, for example, when the mobile phone can be
arranged such that one touch panel is hidden, it becomes possible
to display the image that the user wants to continue looking at on
the other touch panel which is not hidden by performing the
operation described above in advance to interchange the image being
displayed on the respective touch panels with each other to be
displayed on the respective touch panel, when this mobile device is
arranged as described above.
[0142] (11) In addition, the respective touch panels may comprise a
display area which is approximately rectangular and the specific
direction may be the direction toward one side in the vicinity of
the other touch panel when the device is in the mode in which both
of the first and the second touch panels are arranged side by side
on approximately the same plane.
[0143] In this manner, in an the mobile phone 100/200 can provide
intuitive operability since at least some of the image displayed on
other touch panel, respectively is displayed onto each touch panel
when the operation meeting the specific conditions including one in
which the touching position on each touch panel is changed to the
direction toward one side in the vicinity of the other touch panel,
respectively, as a requirement.
[0144] (12) In addition, the display control module may display the
entire image displayed on the other touch panel before such
decision, in place of the image displayed on the respective touch
panel, when the decision module decides that the specific
conditions are met.
[0145] In this manner, according to the embodiment of the
disclosure, for example, when the mobile phone can be arranged such
that the second touch panel is hidden and only the first touch
panel is visible, by performing the operation meeting the specific
conditions in advance, the image displayed on the second touch
panel which is what the user wants to continue looking at can be
displayed onto the first touch panel; hence, the user can look at
any images he/she wishes even if the device is arranged in the
aforementioned mode later.
[0146] (13) In addition, the specific conditions may include one in
which the touching position on the respective touch panel is,
regarding the vector in the direction perpendicular to one side in
the vicinity of the other touch panel, respectively, changed to the
direction toward such one side for a specific amount or more per
unit of time, as a requirement.
[0147] In this manner, in an embodiment, at least some of the image
displayed on the respective touch panels is not interchanged, when
the change in the vector in the specific direction of the touching
position on each touch panel per unit of time is less than the
specific amount. Therefore, when the user performs an operation
such as the touch position on the respective touch panel is changed
to a specific direction toward the other touch panel respectively
by mistake, the possibility that at least some of the image
displayed on the respective touch panels is interchanged and
displayed can be reduced.
[0148] (14) In addition, the specific touch conditions may include
one in which the distance between each position at which touching
on each panel is released and the side in the vicinity of the other
touch panel falls within a specific value, as a requirement.
[0149] In this manner, in an embodiment, when the distance between
each position at which touching on the respective touch panel is
released and one side in the vicinity of the other touch panel is
more than a specific value, at least some of the image displayed on
the respective touch panel is not interchanged. Therefore, when the
user performs an operation such as the touch position on each touch
panel is changed to a specific direction toward the other touch
panel respectively by mistake, the possibility that at least some
of the image displayed on the respective touch panels is
interchanged and displayed can be reduced.
[0150] (15) In addition, the mobile phone 100/200 may further
store, for each icon, the position identification information for
identifying the icon displayed position on the first or the second
touch panel. The process execution module 145 executes the process
assigned to such icon when touch is detected on only one of the
touch panels 110/120 and when touch is released on the displayed
position for the icon identified by the position specifying
information. The update module 143 updates the position
identification information such that the respective icon displayed
position indicates a position on a touch panel 110/120 that is
different after such decision from before, if the decision module
142 decides that the specific touch conditions are met. The display
control module 144 may cause the respective touch panel 110/120 to
perform the display based on the position identification
information updated by the update module 143 when the decision
module 142 decides that the specific conditions are met.
[0151] In this manner, in an embodiment, since when the operation
meeting the specific touch conditions are performed on the
respective touch panels 110/120, the position identification
information is updated such that the display position for each icon
indicates the position on the other touch panel, after the images
displayed on each touch panel are interchanged, even when the user
releases touching with his/her fingers, etc., at the position at
which the icon is displayed, the process assigned to the icon can
be executed in the same way as before the images are
interchanged.
[0152] (16) In addition, the display control module 144 may display
an enlarged image from at least some of the image displayed on a
second touch panel onto the first touch panel, in place of the
image displayed on the first touch panel, when the decision module
142 decides that the specific touch conditions are met.
[0153] In this manner, since the mobile phone 100 displays an
enlarged image from at least some of the image displayed on the
second touch panel onto the first touch panel when the operation
meeting the specific touch conditions is performed on the
respective touch panel, the visibility can be enhanced for images
that are small and difficult to look at.
[0154] (17) In addition, the specific touch conditions may include
one in which a period during which the change in the touch position
in a specific direction toward other touch panels respectively on
the respective touch panel occurs simultaneously is present, as a
requirement.
[0155] In this manner, according to an embodiment, at least some of
the images displayed on each touch panel are not interchanged when
there is no period during which the changes in the touch position
on the respective touch panel in a specific direction toward each
other's touch panel occur simultaneously. Therefore, when the user
performs an operation such as the touch position on each touch
panel is changed to a specific direction toward the other touch
panel by mistake, the possibility that at least some of the image
displayed on the respective touch panel are interchanged and
displayed can be reduced.
[0156] (18) In addition, the specific touch condition may include
one in which, regarding the vector in the direction approximately
perpendicular to one side in the vicinity of the other touch panel
respectively, the touch position on the respective touch panel is
changed to the direction toward the one side for a specific amount
or more, as a requirement.
[0157] In this manner, in an embodiment, at least some of the
images displayed on each touch panel are not interchanged when the
touch position on the respective touch panel is, regarding the
vector in the direction perpendicular to one side in the vicinity
of the other touch panel respectively, not changed to the direction
toward such one side for a specific value or more. Therefore, when
the user performs an operation such as the touch position on the
respective touch panel is changed to a specific direction toward
the other touch panel respectively by mistake, the possibility that
at least some of the image displayed on the respective touch panel
are interchanged and displayed can be reduced.
[0158] In this document, the terms "computer program product",
"computer-readable medium", and the like may be used generally to
refer to media such as, for example, memory, storage devices, or
storage unit. These and other forms of computer-readable media may
be involved in storing one or more instructions for use by the
processor module 145 to cause the processor module 145 to perform
specified operations. Such instructions, generally referred to as
"computer program code" or "program code" (which may be grouped in
the form of computer programs or other groupings), when executed,
enable a display control method of the mobile phone
100/200/400.
[0159] While at least one exemplary embodiment is presented in the
foregoing detailed description, the present disclosure is not
limited to the above-described embodiment or embodiments.
Variations may be apparent to those skilled in the art. In carrying
out the present disclosure, various modifications, combinations,
sub-combinations and alterations may occur in regard to the
elements of the above-described embodiment insofar as they are
within the technical scope of the present disclosure or the
equivalents thereof. The exemplary embodiment or exemplary
embodiments are examples, and are not intended to limit the scope,
applicability, or configuration of the disclosure in any way.
[0160] Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide
those skilled in the art with a template for implementing the
exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. It should be
understood that various changes can be made in the function and
arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the
disclosure as set forth in the appended claims and the legal
equivalents thereof. Furthermore, although embodiments of the
present disclosure have been described with reference to the
accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that changes and
modifications may be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such
changes and modifications are to be understood as being comprised
within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the
claims.
[0161] Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations
hereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as
open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing:
the term "including" should be read as mean "including, without
limitation" or the like; the term "example" is used to provide
exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or
limiting list thereof; and adjectives such as "conventional,"
"traditional," "normal," "standard," "known" and terms of similar
meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a
given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but
instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional,
normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now
or at any time in the future.
[0162] Likewise, a group of items linked with the conjunction "and"
should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those
items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as
"and/or" unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of
items linked with the conjunction "or" should not be read as
requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should
also be read as "and/or" unless expressly stated otherwise.
Furthermore, although items, elements or components of the present
disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural
is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to
the singular is explicitly stated. The presence of broadening words
and phrases such as "one or more," "at least," "but not limited to"
or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean
that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where
such broadening phrases may be absent. The term "about" when
referring to a numerical value or range is intended to encompass
values resulting from experimental error that can occur when taking
measurements.
* * * * *