(19) Japanese Patent Office (JP)
`(12) Kokai Unexamined Patent Application Bulletin (A)
`(11) Laid Open Patent Application No.
`
`2002-77357
`(43) Publication Date
`
`March 15, 2002
`Number of Claims
`
`11 OL
`
`Number of Pages
`
`
`10
`Examination Request
`
`not yet made
`
`
`Identification Code
`
`
`
`
`
`(51)
`
`
`Int. Cl.7
`H04M 1/23
`H04B 1/38
`H04M 1/00
` 1/02
` 1/247
`
`
`
`FI
`H04M 1/23
`H04B 1/38
`H04M 1/00
` 1/02
` 1/247
`
`Theme code (Ref.)
`Q 4E360
` 5K011
`J 5K023
`C 5K027
`
`Continued on the last page
`
`000005821
`Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
`1006 Oaza Kadoma, Kadoma-shi,
`Osaka-fu
`ISHIHARA, Yukisuke
`Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
`1006 Oaza Kadoma, Kadoma-shi,
`Osaka-fu
`MIYAJIMA, Akio
`Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
`1006 Oaza Kadoma, Kadoma-shi,
`Osaka-fu
`100097445
`Patent Attorney, IWAHASHI, Fumio (and 2
`other people)
`
`Continued on the last page
`
`(21) Application No.:
`
`2000-263468
`
`
`
`(71) Applicant:
`
`(22) Application Date:
`
`August 31, 2000
`
`(72)
`
`Inventor:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(72)
`
`Inventor:
`
`(31) Priority No.
`
`2000-176416
`
`(74) Agent:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`June 13, 2000
`Japan
`
`(32) Priority Date
`(33) Priority Country
`
`(54) [Title of the Invention] Electronic device
`(57) [Abstract]
`[Problem to Be Solved] [The present invention] relates to an
`electronic device, such as a mobile telephone or the like,
`comprising a display part and an input switch by which a
`desired selection item can be input; and an object thereof is to
`provide this with excellent operability, with which display part
`visibility is good and a desired item can be promptly selected.
`[Means for Solving the Problems] Provided is an electronic
`device with excellent operability with which a display is not
`hidden by a finger while selecting, visibility of the display is
`good because a display face is not easily soiled, and a desired
`item can be promptly selected even when the number of
`selection items is large, because this is configured with a touch
`panel switch 37 disposed on the rear-face side with respect to a
`display part 33 on the front face of the electronic device, so as
`to allow selection of a desired item by way of pressing the
`touch panel switch 37 at a predetermined position
`corresponding to the desired item from among the selection
`items displayed on a display part 33.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Translation by Patent Translations Inc. 206-357-8508 mail@PatentTranslations.com
`
`

`
`JP-2002-077357-A (2)
`
`
`drawings.
`[0003] FIG. 13 is a front view of a conventional mobile
`telephone, and in the same drawing, 1 is an exterior case,
`which is a housing body, and the front thereof is an operation
`face.
`[0004] The top of the operation face comprises a receiver part
`2 having a built-in speaker; and a display part 3, which is a
`display means, comprises an LCD 4 in a location below this.
`[0005] Meanwhile, the bottom of the operation face comprises
`a transmitter part 5 provided with a microphone to be used
`during transmission; and an operation button part 6 comprising
`numerical keys and the like is disposed in a location above this,
`wherein one [button] in the operation button part 6 is a
`confirmation operation key 6A to confirm operations.
`[0006] Moreover, as shown in a sectional view of key elements
`in FIG. 14, a transparent touch panel switch 7, which can be
`operated by being pressed with a fingertip or the like, is
`disposed overlaid on an LCD 4 comprised by the display part
`3.
`[0007] In addition, an antenna 8 is mounted on the upper end
`of the exterior case 1 so as to be able to extend-contract with
`respect to the exterior case 1 and to be stored; an electric
`circuit for controlling input and output information between the
`LCD 4, the operation button part 6, the transparent touch panel
`switch 7, the antenna 8, and the like is accommodated inside
`the exterior case 1; the configuration of the mobile telephone
`containing the electronic circuit is illustrated in a block diagram
`showing the circuit configuration in FIG. 15, which is described
`hereafter using the same drawings.
`[0008] In FIG. 15, 9 is a CPU that performs various calculation
`processing, determinations, and the like; and the LCD 4, the
`operation button part 6, the transparent touch panel switch 7,
`and the antenna 8 are controlled by being directly connected,
`or connected via a predetermined circuit part or the like, to the
`CPU 9.
`[0009] That is, the LCD 4 is controlled by being connected via
`a LCD driver 10 to the CPU 9; and the transparent touch panel
`switch 7 is controlled by being connected via a transparent
`touch panel switch driver 11 to the CPU 9.
`[0010] Moreover, a signal from the operation button part 6 is
`processed by way of the signal being directly input to the CPU
`9.
`[0011] Furthermore, the antenna 8 is controlled by being
`connected via a transceiver circuit part 12 to the CPU 9.
`[0012] Moreover, a ROM 13
`in which predetermined
`information is registered in advance and a RAM 14 that allows
`information such as a telephone directory to be registered and
`deleted at any time are connected to the CPU 9.
`[0013] Next, operation of the mobile telephone with the above
`configuration is described using the same drawings.
`[0014] With this mobile telephone, while in a default state in
`which signals are not transmitted or received, a predetermined
`default menu 15 comprising a plurality of items and a cursor 16
`indicating the item currently selected from among the items
`being displayed are displayed by way of the LCD 4 on the
`display part 3, as shown in a drawing describing
`
`[CLAIMS]
`[Claim 1] An electronic device comprising a front face display
`part that displays a plurality of selection items and a flat input
`operation part, wherein the input operation part is disposed on
`the rear face of the display part so as to allow operation by
`holding with at least one hand while viewing the display part.
`[Claim 2] The electronic device recited in claim 1, wherein
`operating positions of the input operation part are arranged to
`correspond to the arrangement of the plurality of selection
`items displayed on the display part.
`[Claim 3] The electronic device recited in claim 2, wherein
`protrusions are provided on the input operation part at the
`operating positions that correspond to the arrangement of the
`plurality of selection items displayed on the display part.
`[Claim 4] The electronic device recited in claim 2, wherein the
`selection items of the display part and the operating positions
`of the input operation part corresponding to the same are
`disposed in approximately opposite positions on the front and
`rear of the device, with the front face display part and the rear
`face input operation part being substantially the same size.
`[Claim 5] The electronic device recited in claim 2, wherein the
`selection items of the display part and the operating positions
`of the input operation part corresponding to the same are
`disposed at corresponding positions on front and rear of the
`device, with the rear face input operation part being larger than
`the front face display part.
`[Claim 6] The electronic device recited in claim 2, comprising a
`means that can recognize that a selection item on the display
`part has been selected by operation of the input operation part.
`[Claim 7] The electronic device recited in claim 6, which is
`configured so that, by way of push switches provided in each
`operating position of the input operation part being pressed
`twice within a predetermined time or being pressed for longer
`than a predetermined time, a selection item on the display part
`corresponding to that operating position is selected/confirmed.
`[Claim 8] The electronic device recited in claim 6, wherein on a
`side face of the device held by one hand, a push switch is
`provided to confirm selection items selected by operation of the
`input operation part.
`[Claim 9] The electronic device recited in claim 2, wherein the
`selection items on the display part are selected or moved in
`accordance with a vector component acquired on the basis of
`input variation corresponding to a plurality of operating
`positions that are traced when a fingertip traces in a desired
`direction on a flat input operation part.
`[Claim 10] The electronic device recited in claim 2, wherein an
`upper portion containing the front face display part and rear
`face input operation part and a lower portion containing
`another function part are coupled so as to be able to be folded
`in half.
`[Claim 11] The electronic device recited in claim 10, wherein
`the upper portion containing the front face display part and rear
`face input operation part and the lower portion containing the
`other function part are held in an angled position with an open
`angle of 150° to 170°.
`[Detailed Description of the Invention]
`[0001]
`[Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention
`relates to an electronic device, primarily a mobile telephone,
`video camera, audio device, or the like, comprising a display
`part and an input switch, with which a desired selection item
`can be input.
`[0002]
`[Prior Art] A mobile
`telephone, as an example of a
`conventional type of electronic device, is described using the
`
`Translation by Patent Translations Inc. 206-357-8508 mail@PatentTranslations.com
`
`

`
`a display screen in FIG. 16.
`[0015] In addition, in order to perform a predetermined
`operation such as making a mobile call, an operator first inputs
`a signal from the transparent touch panel switch 7 by pressing,
`with a fingertip, a predetermined portion that is displayed in
`order to switch the display screen from the default state to a
`screen with which the desired operation can be performed,
`moves the position of the cursor 16 displayed on the display
`part 3 so as to be aligned with the desired item, and then
`transmits to the CPU 9 a signal that indicates that the item was
`selected/confirmed by pressing the confirmation operation key
`6A.
`[0016] When the CPU 9 recognizes the confirmation signal,
`the display content is switched to the desired content by
`determining the item that was selected by the cursor 16 in the
`display part 3, calling a screen or the like corresponding to this
`from the ROM 13 or the RAM 14, and transmitting this to the
`LCD 4 via the LCD driver 10.
`[0017] To describe the above content in further detail, when
`searching for and calling up a previously stored telephone
`number, the operator inputs a signal from the transparent touch
`panel switch 7 by pressing on a "call telephone number" item
`with a fingertip in order to switch to the display corresponding
`to the "call telephone number" item from among the items in
`the default menu 15, and then presses the confirmation
`operation key 6A.
`[0018] By way of this operation, the CPU 9 retrieves
`information in a preregistered telephone directory from the
`RAM 14 or the ROM 13, the information is transmitted to the
`LCD 4 via the LCD driver 10, and the LCD 4 display switches
`to the telephone directory and a display that allows the same to
`be searched.
`[0019] Next, the operator presses on the desired telephone
`number with a fingertip, in the same manner as above, and
`then selects/confirms of the desired telephone number by
`pressing the confirmation operation key 6A.
`[0020] In this way, when the CPU 9 recognizes that the desired
`telephone number
`is confirmed,
`the CPU 9 sends a
`transmission signal via the transceiver circuit part 12 and the
`antenna
`8
`to
`the
`telephone
`number
`that was
`selected/confirmed above by way of performing a
`predetermined process.
`[0021] Note that, at the same time, the CPU 9 also performs
`predetermined control, with respect to the receiver part 2 and
`the transmitter part 5, which are not shown in FIG. 15, so that
`an input and output signal for audio and the like can be
`transmitted and received via the transceiver circuit 12 and the
`antenna 8.
`[0022]
`[Problems to Be Solved by the Invention] However, with the
`conventional mobile telephone above, operability is inhibited
`and selection is made difficult by a portion of the display being
`hidden by a finger because the fingertip contacts the display
`part 3 when selecting a predetermined item displayed on the
`display part 3, and there is a problem of operability further
`deteriorating because the surface of the transparent touch
`panel switch 7 is readily soiled by fingerprints, sweat, and oil
`from the operator adhering thereon and the content displayed
`on the LCD 4, which is disposed underneath, being difficult to
`see.
`[0023] The present
`invention solves such conventional
`problems, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic
`device with excellent operability that allows for good visibility of
`items displayed on a display part and for desired items to be
`selected promptly.
`
`JP-2002-077357-A (3)
`
`
`[0024]
`[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has
`the following configuration in order to achieve the object
`described above.
`[0025] The invention recited in claim 1 of the present invention
`is an electronic device comprising a front face display part that
`displays a plurality of selection items and a flat input operation
`part, the input operation part being disposed on the rear face of
`the display part so as to allow operation by holding with at least
`one hand, which has the [advantageous] effect of achieving an
`electronic device with excellent operability for which visibility of
`the plurality of selection items is good due to the display not
`being hidden by a finger of an operator during operation, and
`that allows a desired item to be promptly selected.
`[0026] The invention recited in claim 2 of the present invention
`is such that, in the invention recited in claim 1, operating
`positions of
`the
`input operation part are arranged
`to
`correspond to the arrangement of the plurality of selection
`items displayed on
`the display part, which has
`the
`[advantageous] effect of providing an electronic device with
`excellent operability with which the operating positions of the
`selection items are easily recognized by way of the operator's
`finger-position sensation because the operating positions of
`the input operation part correspond to the arrangement of the
`display part.
`[0027] The invention recited in claim 3 of the present invention
`is such that the invention recited in claim 2 is provided with
`protrusions on the input operation part at the operating
`positions that correspond to the arrangement of the plurality of
`selection items displayed on the display part, which has the
`[advantageous] effect of providing an electronic device with
`excellent operability with which the operating positions for
`pressing operations or the like of the input operation part can
`be easily recognized by the operator touching with a finger.
`[0028] The invention recited in claim 4 of the present invention
`is such that, in the invention recited in claim 2, the selection
`items of the display part and the operating positions of the
`input operation part corresponding to the same are disposed in
`approximately opposite positions on the front and rear of the
`device, with the front face display part and the rear face input
`operation part being substantially the same size, which has the
`[advantageous] effect of producing an electronic device with
`excellent operability with which the operating positions of the
`operation part can be easily and precisely recognized by way
`of the operator viewing the positions on the display part
`because the operating positions corresponding to the selection
`items are in positions directly behind [the corresponding items]
`on the device.
`[0029] The invention recited in claim 5 of the present invention
`is such that, in the invention recited in claim 2, the selection
`items of the display part and the operating positions of the
`input operation part corresponding to the same are disposed in
`corresponding positions on the front and rear of the device,
`with the rear face input operation part being larger than the
`front face display part, which has the [advantageous] effect of
`producing an electronic device that can be reliably operated by
`reducing operational mistakes by a fingertip of an operator,
`even with a small electronic device with a small display part.
`[0030] The invention recited in claim 6 of the present invention
`is such that the invention recited in claim 2 is provided with a
`means that can recognize that a selection item on the display
`part has been selected by operation of the input operation part,
`which has the [advantageous] effect of producing an electronic
`
`Translation by Patent Translations Inc. 206-357-8508 mail@PatentTranslations.com
`
`

`
`device that can be easily and reliably operated because the
`selection of a predetermined selection item can be clearly
`recognized by visual confirmation or the like.
`[0031] The invention recited in claim 7 of the present invention
`is such that the invention recited in claim 6 is configured so
`that, by way of push switches provided in each operating
`position of the input operation part being pressed twice within a
`predetermined time or being pressed for longer than a
`predetermined time, a selection item on the display part
`corresponding to that operating position is selected/confirmed,
`which has the [advantageous] effect of producing an electronic
`device with excellent operability with which an operator can
`select and confirm a desired item with a single finger and at a
`single operating position.
`[0032] The invention recited in claim 8 of the present invention
`is such that the invention recited in claim 6 is provided with, on
`the side face of the device held by one hand, a push switch to
`confirm a selection item selected by operation of the input
`operation part, which has
`the
`[advantageous] effect of
`producing an electronic device with excellent operability, with
`which confirmation can be easily and reliably performed by
`way of an operator, who is holding the electronic device in one
`hand, selecting a selection item by operating the operation part
`with the index finger, for example, and then moving another
`finger, such as the thumb, holding the electronic device.
`[0033] The invention recited in claim 9 of the present invention
`is such that, in the invention recited in claim 2, the selection
`items on the display part are selected or moved in accordance
`with a vector component acquired on the basis of input
`variation corresponding to a plurality of operating positions that
`are traced when a finger traces in a desired direction on a flat
`input operation part, which has the [advantageous] effect of
`achieving an electronic device that can support games or the
`like by using movement of selection items according to the
`acquired vector.
`[0034] The invention recited in claim 10 of the present
`invention is such that, in the invention recited in claim 2, an
`upper portion containing the front face display part and rear
`face input operation part and a lower portion containing
`another function part are coupled so as to be able to be folded
`in half, which has the [advantageous] effect of producing an
`electronic device that can be easily and reliably operated and
`with which visibility of the displayed items is good because the
`area for the display part and the input operation part can be
`made larger in comparison to types that cannot be folded in
`half.
`[0035] The invention recited in claim 11 of the present
`invention is such that, in the invention recited in claim 10, the
`upper portion containing the front face display part and rear
`face input operation part and the lower portion containing the
`other function part can be held in an angled position with an
`open angle of 150° to 170°, which has the [advantageous]
`effect of providing an electronic device with which it is possible
`to hold the lower portion, which contains the other function part
`of the electronic device, in the palm of one hand, and while
`viewing the front face display part, comfortably operate the
`input operation part of the upper portion rear face with a finger
`of the holding hand.
`[0036]
`Invention] Hereafter,
`the
`[Modes of Embodiment of
`embodiments of the present invention are described using FIG.
`1 to FIG. 12.
`[0037] (Embodiment 1) Using an embodiment 1, in particular,
`the inventions recited in claims 1 to 8, of the present invention
`are described.
`
`JP-2002-077357-A (4)
`
`[0038] FIG. 1 (a) is a front view of a mobile telephone, serving
`as the electronic device, according to a first embodiment of the
`present invention; (b) is a rear view of the same; FIG. 2 is a
`sectional view of key elements of the same; in the same
`drawings, 31 is an exterior case wherein the front face is a
`display face; on the upper end of the display face is a receiver
`part 32; in the top center, a display part 33 that is a display
`means comprises an LCD 34; on the lower end, a transmitter
`part 35 is disposed; on the bottom center, an operation button
`part 36 comprising numerical keys and the like is disposed;
`and one [button] in the operation button part 36 is a
`confirmation operation key 36A
`for confirming various
`operations.
`[0039] In addition, 37 on the rear face is a touch panel switch,
`which serves as the input operation part, wherein the portion of
`the touch panel switch 37 that allows input operations is
`substantially the same size as the display part 33, and these
`are disposed in approximately opposite positions on the front
`and rear faces of the mobile telephone.
`[0040] As shown in an expanded sectional view of the touch
`panel switch in FIG. 3, the touch panel switch 37 is one
`wherein a flexible upper insulating substrate 40 and a rigid
`lower insulating substrate 41 are held with a predetermined
`space
`therebetween by a partition 44
`that has a
`pressure-sensitive adhesive layer so that conducting films 42
`and 43 formed on each of the opposing faces are not in
`contact, and is generally referred to as an analog type or a
`resistive film type.
`[0041] In addition, during input operations, a predetermined
`output signal can be obtained by way of bringing about
`conduction between the conducting films 42 and 43 by
`pressing a predetermined position on the upper insulating
`substrate 40.
`[0042] Note that FIG. 3 represents the dimensions in the
`thickness direction, in particular, as magnified in order to be
`more easily understood.
`[0043] Furthermore, an antenna 47 is mounted on the top of
`the exterior case 31 so as to be able to extend-contract with
`respect to the exterior case 31 and to be stored; an electric
`circuit that controls the display part 33, the operation button
`part 36, the touch panel switch 37 and the antenna 47 is
`accommodated
`inside
`the exterior case 31;
`the circuit
`configuration for the mobile telephone according to the present
`invention including the electronic circuit is illustrated in the
`block diagram in FIG. 4 that shows a circuit configuration; and
`the circuit configuration is described below.
`[0044] In FIG. 4, 48 is a CPU that performs various calculation
`processing, determinations, and the like, and the LCD 34,
`which is the display part 33 above, the operation button part 36,
`the touch panel switch 37, and the antenna 47 are controlled
`by being directly connected, or connected via a predetermined
`circuit part or the like, to the CPU 48.
`[0045] That is, the LCD 34, which is the display part 33, is
`controlled by being connected via a LCD driver 49 to the CPU
`48, and a signal from the operation button part 36 is processed
`by way of being directly input to the CPU 48.
`[0046] In addition, the touch panel switch 37 is controlled by
`being connected via a touch panel switch driver 50 to the CPU
`48.
`
`Translation by Patent Translations Inc. 206-357-8508 mail@PatentTranslations.com
`
`

`
`JP-2002-077357-A (5)
`
`LCD 34 via the LCD driver 49, and the display on the display
`part 33 switches to the telephone directory.
`[0055] Next, the operator presses on the touch panel switch 37
`with a fingertip in the same manner as above, and then selects
`and confirms the desired telephone number by aligning the
`cursor 55 position with the desired telephone number and
`pressing the confirmation operation key 36A.
`[0056] When
`the CPU 48 recognizes
`that the desired
`telephone number has been confirmed in this manner, the CPU
`48 performs a predetermined process and sends a
`transmission signal via the transceiver circuit part 51 and the
`antenna 47 to the telephone number that was confirmed by the
`above search, and the receiver part 32 and the transmitter part
`35 can be operated.
`[0057] In this way, by virtue of the present embodiment, the
`touch panel switch 37, which is on the rear face of the display
`part 33, is operated by being pressed with a fingertip, and thus
`a mobile telephone can be realized, wherein visibility is good,
`as a result of the selection items or the like not being hidden
`while selecting with a finger, even if the number of selection
`items is large, and which has excellent operability, allowing the
`cursor 55 to be aligned with a desired item easily and promptly,
`and in which the reliability of the operation portion is excellent
`because the display face of the display part 33 is not readily
`soiled by fingerprints, sweat and oil from the operator and
`sweat and oil from around the ear of the operator does not
`readily adhere during a call because the touch panel switch 37
`is on the side behind a receiver part.
`[0058] Note that in the description above, the case of
`displaying with the cursor 55 as a means for identifying the
`item currently selected from among the items displayed on the
`display part 33 is described, but the characters displaying the
`selected item may change color or may blink, and the item
`content may be identified by audio expression.
`[0059] Moreover, as shown in the rear view of the mobile
`telephone in FIG. 6, if protrusions 38 of a size that can be
`recognized by a fingertip are provided on the surface of the
`touch panel switch 37, which is disposed on the rear face of
`the display part 33, in the operating positions that are aligned
`with the item positions most commonly displayed on the
`display part 33, the desired item can be reliably selected
`because the operating position can also be easily recognized
`by touching with a fingertip when pressing the touch panel
`switch 37, and operation can be performed by way of the
`fingertip striking the protrusions 38.
`[0060] Furthermore, in the description above, the example of a
`configuration having the confirmation operation key 36A as a
`separate button is described, but confirmation may be by
`determining the information that the touch panel switch 37
`turned ON, and in this case, in order to differentiate
`
`[0047] Moreover, in addition to the antenna 47 also being
`connected to, and controlled by, the CPU 48 via a transceiver
`circuit part 51, a ROM 52 in which predetermined information is
`registered in advance and a RAM 53 that allows information
`such as a telephone directory to be registered and deleted at
`any time are connected.
`[0048] Next, mobile telephone operations according to the
`present embodiment are described using the same drawings.
`[0049] As shown in a drawing that describes the display screen
`in FIG. 5, in a default state in which there are no incoming or
`outgoing signals, with a mobile telephone according to the
`present embodiment, a predetermined default menu 54
`comprising a plurality of items, and the cursor 55 indicating an
`item currently selected among the items being displayed, are
`displayed on the display part 33.
`[0050] In addition, in order to perform a predetermined
`operation, such as when making a mobile call, an operator first
`moves the cursor 55 to the position of a desired selection item
`by pressing, with a fingertip, a predetermined portion of the
`touch panel switch 37 corresponding to substantially directly
`behind the position in which the desired selection item is
`displayed, in order to switch a display screen from the default
`state to a state in which the desired operation can be
`performed.
`[0051] Then, because the touch panel switch 37 is configured
`with the conducting films 42 and 43 formed on the opposing
`faces of the upper insulating substrate 40 and the lower
`insulating substrate 41, which are held with a predetermined
`space therebetween, as shown earlier in FIG. 3, when a
`predetermined position on the top face of the upper insulating
`substrate 40 is pressed, a predetermined signal is sent to the
`CPU 48 as a result of contact being made between the
`conducting films 42 and 43 at the pressed position, and in this
`manner, the CPU 48 controls the cursor 55 of the display part
`33 so that the desired selection item is clearly indicated.
`[0052] That is, with this mobile telephone, the position of the
`cursor 55 is aligned with a desired item by way of pressing a
`predetermined position that is on the touch panel switch 37
`disposed on the rear face of the display part 33 and that
`corresponds to the desired item from the items displayed on
`the display part 33; after the cursor 55 is aligned with the
`desired item by way of pressing on the touch panel switch 37,
`the operator sends a signal to the CPU 48 that the desired item
`has been selected/confirmed by pressing the confirmation
`operation key 36A; when
`the CPU 48 recognizes
`this
`confirmation signal, the item selected by the cursor 55 on the
`display part 33 is determined; the predetermined menu screen
`or the like corresponding to this is called from ROM 52 or RAM
`53; this is transmitted to the LCD 34 via the LCD driver 49; and
`the display content of the display part 33 switches to the
`desired content.
`[0053] To describe the above content in further detail, when
`searching for and calling up a previously stored telephone
`number, in order to switch to the display that corresponds to a
`"call telephone number" item from among the items in the
`predetermined default menu 54, the operator presses, with a
`fingertip, the touch panel switch 37 in a first row portion, in a
`position substantially directly behind
`the "call
`telephone
`number" item position displayed on the display part 33, as
`shown in FIG. 5, aligns the cursor 55 displayed on the display
`part 33 with the "call telephone number" item position, and then
`presses the confirmation operation key 36A.
`[0054] By way of this operation, the CPU 48 retrieves
`information in a preregistered telephone directory from the
`RAM 53 or the ROM 52, the information is transmitted to the
`
`Translation by Patent Translations Inc. 206-357-8508 mail@PatentTranslations.com
`
`

`
`JP-2002-077357-A (6)
`
`automobile displayed on a display part 68 is moved left and
`right by a touch panel switch 67 being pressed with a fingertip
`and traced left and right, and an obstacle 70 in the landscape
`that is displayed so as to move can be avoided and passed by
`way of pressing the touch panel switch 67.
`[0068] (Embodiment 3) Using an embodiment 3, in particular,
`the inventions according to claims 10 and 11 of the present
`invention are described.
`[0069] FIG. 10 is an external perspective view as seen from
`the front side of a mobile telephone, serving as the electronic
`device, according to a third mode of embodiment of the
`present invention; FIG. 11 is an external perspective view as
`seen from the rear side of the same.
`[0070] As shown in the same drawings, in the mobile
`telephone according to the present embodiment, an upper
`portion 75, which includes a display part 71 on the front face
`and a touch panel switch 72 serving as the input operation part
`on the rear face, and which is provided with a receiver part 73
`and an antenna 74, is coupled with a lower portion 78 that is
`provided with other function parts, such as an operation button
`part 76 and a transmitter part 77, so as to be able to be folded
`in half around an intermediate rotating part 79.
`[0071] As a result of being configured in this manner, a mobile
`telephone is provided that has good visibility of displayed items
`and that can be easily and reliably operated because,
`compared to an one-piece mobile telephone that cannot be
`folded in half as described in embodiments 1 and 2 above, the
`size when folded can be small while the area of the display part
`71 and touch panel switch 72 while opened can be made large.
`[0072] In addition, when operating this mobile telephone, the
`rear face of the low