Portable electronic device with display screen along several directions

An electronic device Cell comprising a display screen.

The invention is applicable to any device with a and display control means of this screen. Include for example the calculators but all gaming machines portable interactive.

WO-A-9419736 A (NORAND CORPORATION) describes a portable device collection and data processing having keys or sensitive surfaces constituting a keyboard that can be redirected by relative to the device (pp. 5-6), said keys being reassigned to new features and the display direction data on the screen is simultaneously changed (p. 19, I. 10-32). Such an operation may be caused either manually by the operator - by means of a switch or a combination of keys -, or automatically, e.g. by detecting with sensors orientation of a mask (template 43) affixed on the keyboard to indicate the symbols associated with each key (P. 19, I. 32 to p. 20).

EP-A-0390303 (KYOCERA CORPORATION) relates to a device the like (see page 5, I. 55 to p. 6, I. 3 with Fig. 12 (a) 12 (b) and 13, and p. 11, I. 31 to p. 12, I. 14 with Fig. 35 to 37), including means for designation (1_2a) By the operator to the desired display direction. Alternatively, the determination of the display direction can be automatic, by means of sensors (36) detecting the position of the user relative to the device.

US-A-4481598 A (Ishiwata) A portable device used to unit conversion calculator or with templates trigonometric, wherein a key is assigned to a function plurality of predetermined functions in response to a key special designation (conversion designation key or function). The function currently performed by the device and therefore assigned to buttons can be displayed on a display arranged near Annex Button (16A-16C).

The present invention enables to provide a man-machine interface particularly suited to electronic devices commonly small called portable.

The invention more particularly a device as described in claim 1.

The selection means are either automatic or manuals.

In the case where the selection means are Automatic they comprise a position detector use of the device.

In the case where the selection means are manuals, they have a dedicated key for each selection display directions.

According to one embodiment, the device further includes several groups of keys whose functions depend on the display direction selected.

According to another aspect of the invention, the device comprises a memory containing one or more program (s) of application and selection means an application among all programs Application provided.

According to another aspect, the selection means application comprise the combining means.

In a particular application, the device comprises means for converting a first information input by means of one or both groups of keys and readable on the screen in the direction selected display, in a second information readable on the screen in the second direction display after selecting this second direction display.

The conversion means can be e.g. EUR-CHF conversion means.

The display may be achieved by a multi matrix and the number of management display will be equal to two or greater.

The display may be achieved by a character matrix LCD type and number of display direction will then be equal to two.

According to another aspect of the invention, the device e comprises a read-write interface of IC card and an insertion slot to dimensions adapted to that of a card.

The invention applies particularly to the realization of a euro-franc converter.

The invention is particularly applicable to the realization of a card reader.

The invention also applies to the production interactive gaming machines.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which is given by way of illustration and not limitation and with reference to the figures in which:<ul><li>Figure 1 represents the block diagram a device according to the invention.</li><li>Figure 2 represents the diagram of an example of embodiment of a device according to the invention,</li><li>Figure 3 represents a top view according Figure 2,</li><li>Figure 4 shows the diagram of an example of embodiment of a key,</li><li>Figure 5 shows a dynamic scheme illustrating how to use the device,</li><li>Figure 6 shows a block diagram of combining means,</li><li>Figure 7 shows the diagram of a plan view of the device according to the application converter EUR-CHF</li><li>Figure 8 represents the diagram of a plan view of the device according to the application of drive Smartcard.</li></ul>

The display screen 10 can be achieved either by a multipoint matrix or by a matrix LCD character type.

In Figure 1 there is shown a multipoint matrix 100 for example.

Known way, the rows and columns of the matrix are connected to a decoder respectively line 110 and a column decoder 120.

The decoders 110 and 120 of the screen 10 are connected to control means 20 comprising means for display controller 200, 210.

The control means are realized by a unit Microprocessor control type embodying or the display control program (or driver in English terminology) Registered (s) in its program memory 210.

It is anticipated the invention of a program display control for each direction display.

Thus, a display control program will allow for the same character, activate the lines and columns that are suitable according to the display will be the direction D1 or D2 or D3 as is illustrated in Figure 1.

For example to display the letter A after direction D1, are rows and columns to achieve the Z1 pad which will be activated while to display the same letter the following direction D3, these are rows and columns to achieve the Z2 pad will be enabled.

To this end the device further includes means for selecting the display direction 30.

The information depends on the display direction issued by these means is received by the unit treatment that starts the execution of the program display control corresponding to that direction.

The device shown in this figure will in Also behave according to the applications that will be described later, a physical interface and IL logic of known reading and writing such a known chip card will be explained about the application illustrated by figure 7.

The physical interface is shown in dotted in this figure and the door 240 and reference the logical interface corresponds to a referenced program IL, classic, reading / writing a smart card, loaded into the memory 230 or memory 210.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate an example of producing an electronic device according to the invention.

The circular shape is advantageous for realization of a euro-franc converter.

The look of the converter may be that of a coin with a diameter of about 5cm.

This form may also be suitable in the case of the embodiment of a card reader chip from the instant when the diameter of this device and its thickness is sufficient for the insertion of a card Smart standard format.

The device may not contain any key. The user will in this case that the possibility of read different messages according to the directions display selected by the position of use adopted. This position is in this case detected automatically by a position detector consisting for example of a mercury lamp.

advantageous to use such a device for map reading electronic wallet.

Is shown in Figure 2 a device comprising the contrary G1 three groups of keys, G2, G3. The group concept is introduced for illustrate the distribution of keys on the device, the assembly forming a single human-machine interface.

For example each group has four keys shown in Figures 3 and 4. A symbol (alphanumeric character or function) will be. represented on each facet of each key.

The combination key and dependent information The direction. display allows as will be detailed in the following have functions different for. each key (multifunction buttons) and also to appeal to different programs Application (F1, F2, F3).

5 illustrates one embodiment particular of the invention.

In this example, the device comprises three Keygroups G1, G2, G3 each comprising a button dedicated to the selection of management to display respectively referenced S1, S2, S3.

For a first position of use selected by the S1 button, the device will implementing a first application program e.g. Phonebook.

For this non-volatile memory 230 includes the numbers displayed in response to support each touch. The key T11 G1 group selects house number, the button selects the T13 doctor's number, the group G3 key T31 Pierre selects the number.

When the operator changes the position use of. Rotational device as is symbolized in the figure, it will select the display direction by the S2 key.

The device will then implement a second eg application program consultation Numbers played the lottery.

The key T11 G1 group selects display I. The nature of T31 selects the display button the gate E.

The operator can even rotate the device in a third position of use. The operator can then select the direction display by the S3 button.

The device will then implement a third application program for example: Reading a smart card and banking transactions (or Reading a phone card).

The key T11 G1 group selects display the first transaction (Trans 1).

The T31 key group G3 selects display the "8" character.

thus be seen that the device has a man-machine interface with a number of keys limited but combined with the information "management display "(or use position) gives it a range of possible functions.

It was described for this example use three key groups each comprising a selection key. Of course, there may be provided replace the manual selection function (keys selection) by an automatic function (sensor position) without changing the principle of operation has been described.

The diagram of Figure 6 illustrates the function combination which has just been described. She is represented by an OR gate followed by an AND logic give access to the F1 or F2 or implementation depending Fi the S1 button (or P1 position) or the S2 key (or position P2) or the S3 button (or position P3) has been selected.

In practice this function will be provided by the processing unit that will receive circuits decoding 110 and 120 the signals generated by the contact T1 keys .. Tj groups G1, ... and Gi signal from the selection button or detector position.

Figure 7 illustrates the application reader smart card of such a device.

In this application the device comprises Furthermore, as has been said one interface at a time physical and card reading logic chip. The interface is of the type known and commonly used in existing readers.

The smart card reader may thus realized allow to display information stored in the map. In case such a reader has no key allowing it to access various applications, can be used for reading the card holder electronic money.

Such a device will of course allow ensure any previously described function independent of the card, for example the function conversion euro-franc illustrated in Figure 8.

However, it may provide key groups as just described about the 5 to access various applications. The course reading and / or writing to these applications is performed for the player and processing unit application programs associated it contains nonvolatile memory.

In all cases the display, there is provided for playing digital characters from a screen LCD, a visual indicator 130 giving direction reading.

Figure 8, illustrates a device according to the invention capable of implementing a function of converting a first following readable information a first direction in a second information (Conversion of the former) in a readable second direction.

The conversion function will preferably a conversion for eurps francs.

A conversion program is provided for this purpose in the nonvolatile memory of the device and the implementation of this program will be launched automatically for the operating program in ROM unit treatment.

The device comprises in this case two groups of keys G1, G2.

The amount in euros will be returned from the keys suitable G1 and G2 group and will be displayed on the screen 10 according to the indicator 130.

The euro area indicated in the figure may correspond to a key executive selection display in the absence of position detector.

To get the converted value in franc the operator will only have to return the device (Press franc selection button if key is present) and read on the converted amount the screen. In all cases presented in the description, order to modify the selection of a direction display may come from the operator but also well course be provided by the application programs.