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`On this 17th day of September, 2014
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`David Farnsworth
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`of Linguistic Systems, Inc., 201 Broadway, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139,
`declared that the attached translation into English of the following file:
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`JP200277357_Matsushita.pdf
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`has been made faithfully of his own knowledge by him and that the translation is a true
`and correct version of the original Japanese text, to the best of his knowledge and belief.
`
`His qualifications as translator include familiarity with English as a native language and
`with Japanese as an acquired language, and with said language as a language of
`instruction and use for 20 years, and that he received a B.A. degree from Brigham Young
`University and that he is employed as a freelance translator by Linguistic Systems, Inc.
`
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`
`
`
`
`Hugh Oechler
`Translation Manager
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`SCEA Ex. 1005 Page 1
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`(19) Japan Patent Agency (JP) (12) Patent Disclosure Publication (A) (11) Patent Application Disclosure No.
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`Unexamined Patent No. 2002-77357
`(P2002-77357A)
`(43) Disclosure March 15, 2002
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`(51) Int. Cl.7
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`ID code
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`Screening request Not requested Number of claims 11 OL (Total 10 pages) Continued on last page
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`Theme code (Reference)
`Q 4E360
` 5K011
`J 5K023
`C 5K027
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`Unexamined Patent No.2000-263458 (P2000-263468)
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`August 31, 2000 (2000.8.31)
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`(21) Patent Application No.
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`(22) Application date
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`(31) Priority Right Assertion No. Unexamined Patent No.2000-176416 (P2000-176416
`(32) Priority Date
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`June 13, 2000 (2000.6.13)
`(33) Priority Right Assertion Country Japan (JP)
`(71) Applicant
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`000005821
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`Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
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`1006, Oaza Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka-fu
`(72) Inventor
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`Yukihiro Ishihara
`1006, Oaza Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka-fu Inside Matsushita Electric
`Industrial Co., Ltd.
`Akio Miyajima
`1006, Oaza Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka-fu Inside Matsushita Electric
`Industrial Co., Ltd.
`100097445
`Attorney Fumio Iwahashi (two others)
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`(72) Inventor
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`(74) Representative
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`Continued on last page
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`(54) [Name of Invention] Electronic Device
`
`(57) [Summary]
`[Issue] For an electronic device such a mobile phone, etc., that are equipped with display areas and input
`switches capable of inputting desired selection items, set an objective to provide a device with good
`visibility in display areas, and with superior operability that enables quick selection of desired items.
`[Resolution Method] Obtain an electronic device where a touch panel switch 37 is positioned on the back
`surface of the display area 33 on the front surface of the electronic device, and since it is configured to
`enable selection of desired items based on push pressure operation of the requisite position on the touch
`panel switch 37 corresponding to the desired item among selection items displayed in the display area 33,
`there is good display visibility even when there is a large number of selection items, because the display
`is not hidden by fingers during selection, and the display surface also is resistant to dirtiness, and superior
`operability that enables quick selection of desired items.
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`SCEA Ex. 1005 Page 2
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`

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`31 External covering case
`32 Voice receiver
`33 Display area
`34 LCD
`35 Voice sender
`36 Operations buttons area
`36A Confirm operations key
`37 Touch panel switch
`47 Antenna
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`
`
`[Scope of Patent Claims]
`[Claim 1] An electronic device equipped with a front surface display area displaying multiple selection
`items, and a planar input operation area, and an electronic device with the above-mentioned input
`operation area positioned on the back surface of the above-mentioned display area so that operation can
`be performed while holding in at least one hand and viewing the above-mentioned display area.
`[Claim 2] The electronic device listed in Claim 1 with the operation position of the input operation area
`arrayed in correspondence to the positions of multiple selection items displayed in the display area.
`[Claim 3] The electronic device listed in Claim 2 with a convex area established in each operations
`position of the input operation area, in correspondence to the positions of multiple selection items
`displayed in the display area.
`[Claim 4] The electronic device listed in Claim 2, where the display area on the front surface, and the
`input operation area on the back surface, are generally the same size, with the multiple selection items
`displayed in the above-mentioned display area, and each operations position of the above-mentioned input
`operation area corresponding to these, being installed in approximately opposing positions on the front
`and back of the device.
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`[Claim 5] The electronic device listed in Claim 2, where the input operation area on the back surface is
`larger than the display area on the front surface, with the multiple selection items displayed in the above-
`mentioned display area, and each operations position of the above-mentioned input operation area
`corresponding to these, being arrayed in corresponding positions on the front and back of the device.
`[Claim 6] The electronic device listed in Claim 2 equipped with a method enabling each selection item in
`the display area to be identified as selected by operation of the input operation area.
`[Claim 7] The electronic device listed in Claim 6 set so that pressing the push-pressure switch, established
`at each operation position in the input operation area, two times within the requisite time, or push-
`pressing longer than the requisite time, selects and confirms the selection item in the display area
`corresponding to that operation position.
`[Claim 8] The electronic device listed in Claim 6, where a push-pressure switch for confirming each
`selection item selected by operation of the input operation area is established on the side surface of the
`device held in one hand.
`[Claim 9] The electronic device listed in Claim 2, where tracing a fingertip in the desired direction on the
`planar input operation area selects or moves the display area selection item in accordance with the vector
`component obtained from the input change versus the multiple operation positions that were traced.
`[Claim 10] The electronic device listed in Claim 2, where the upper side part that includes the front
`surface display area and back surface input operation area, and the lower side part that includes other
`function areas, are coupled so that they can fold in half.
`[Claim 11] The electronic device listed in Claim 10, where the upper side part that includes the front
`surface display area and back surface input operation area, and the lower side part that includes other
`function areas, can be held at an angle position of angular opening 150° to 170°.
`[Detailed Description of the Invention]
`[0001]
`[Technology Field Where Invention Resides] This invention is in relation to electronic devices, mainly
`mobile phones, video cameras, and audio devices, etc., that are equipped with display areas and input
`switches that enable input of the desired selection items.
`[0002]
`[Prior Technology] The drawings shall be used to describe the mobile phone, as an example of this type
`of electronic device in the past.
`[0003] Fig.13 is a front surface drawing of previous mobile phones, and in this drawing, 1 was the
`external cover case, or chassis, with the front surface being the operations surface.
`[0004] In the upper part of this operation surface, a voice receiver 2 with a built-in speaker was
`configured, and in the position below that, a display area 3, or display method, was configured from an
`LCD 4.
`[0005] Meanwhile, in the lower part of this operation surface, a voice sender 5 with a mike placed for use
`in sending was configured, and in the position above that, an operation buttons area 6 consisting of
`alphanumeric keys, etc., was placed, with one in this operation buttons area 6 being a confirm operations
`key 6A for confirming the various types of operations.
`[0006] In addition, as shown in the Fig.14 main part cross-section diagram, in the LCD 4 composing the
`display area 3, and overlaying it, was positioned a transparent touch panel switch 7 enabling push-
`pressure operation with fingertips, etc.
`[0007] Also, on the upper edge of this external cover case 1, an antenna 8 was attached so that it can
`extend and retract, as well as housed, in relation to the external cover case 1, and within the external cover
`case 1 was contained an electrical circuit for controlling the input and output information between the
`above-mentioned LCD 4, operation buttons area 6, transparent touch panel switch 7, and antenna 8, etc.,
`and the configuration of the mobile phone including this electrical circuit was as expressed in the block
`diagram showing the circuit configuration in Fig.15, and this drawing will be used for the description
`below.
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`[0008] In Fig.15, 9 was the CPU performing various arithmetic processes and judgments, etc., and the
`above-mentioned LCD 4, operation buttons area 6, transparent touch panel switch 7, and antenna 8, were
`connected to the CPU 9 either directly or by way of a requisite circuit, and controlled.
`[0009] In other words, the LCD 4, was connected to the above-mentioned CPU 9 by way of an LCD
`driver 10, and the transparent touch panel switch 7 by way of a transparent touch panel switch driver 11,
`and controlled.
`[0010] In addition, the signal from the above-mentioned operation buttons area 6 was formed so that the
`signal was directly input to the CPU 9 and processed.
`[0011] Furthermore, the antenna 8 was connected to the CPU 9 by way of a send and receive signal
`circuit 12, and controlled.
`[0012] In addition, to this CPU 9 was connected a ROM 13 in which requisite information was registered
`beforehand, and a RAM 14 where telephone number lists and other information could be registered or
`deleted as needed.
`[0013] Next is a description, using this same drawing, of the mobile phone operations in the above-
`mentioned configuration.
`[0014] This mobile phone, when in the initial state when receive and send had not been performed, as
`shown in the drawing describing the display screen in Fig.16, had in the display area 3 an initial menu 15
`configured from multiple items by the LCD 4, and a cursor 16 for revealing which among the displayed
`items were items that had been currently selected.
`[0015] Also, to perform the requisite operations such as when calling the mobile phone, etc., first the
`operator, to switch the above-mentioned display screen from the initial state to a screen where the desired
`operations could be performed, performed push-pressure operation by fingertip of the displayed requisite
`part, and a signal was input from the transparent touch panel switch 7, moving the cursor 16 position
`displayed in the display area 3 and aligning it with the desired item, after which the confirm operations
`key 6A was push-pressure operated, and a signal confirming selection of the item was sent to the CPU 9.
`[0016] If the CPU 9 recognized the confirmation signal, the item selected by the cursor 16 in the display
`area 3 was identified, and a screen, etc., corresponding to it was called up from the ROM 13 or RAM 14,
`and this was transmitted by way of the LCD driver 10 to the LCD 4, to switch to the desired display
`content.
`[0017] To describe the above-mentioned content in even more detail, if searching for previously
`memorized telephone numbers to call, the operator, to switch from among the items in the above-
`mentioned initial menu 15 to a display corresponding to the “telephone No. call-up” item, could push-
`pressure a fingertip on the “telephone No. call-up” item, and input a signal from the transparent touch
`panel switch 7, followed by push-pressure of the confirm operation key 6A.
`[0018] With this operation, the CPU 9 could extract the previously registered telephone number list
`information from the RAM 14 or ROM 13, and transmit the information to the LCD 4 by way of the LCD
`driver 10, switching the LCD 4 display to a display where the telephone number list and its search is
`enabled.
`[0019] Next, the operator could push-pressure a fingertip on the desired telephone number, in the same
`way as above, and then afterward press the confirm operation key 6A to select and confirm the desired
`telephone number.
`[0020] If the desired telephone number is confirmed in this way in the CPU 9, the CPU 9 could perform
`the requisite process to send a send signal by way of the send and receive circuit area 12 and antenna 8, in
`regards to the above-mentioned selected and confirmed telephone number.
`[0021] Note that, at the same time as the above, the CPU 9 was configured to perform the requisite
`control so that, even for the voice receiver 2 and voice sender 5 not shown in Fig.15, send and receive of
`voice and other input and output signals could be performed by way of the send and receive circuit area
`12 and antenna 8.
`[0022]
`[Issues To Be Resolved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned conventional mobile phones,
`there were such issues as, when the fingertip came into contact on the display area 3 when selecting the
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`requisite item displayed in the display area 3, the display would have an area hidden by the finger, making
`selection difficult and hindering operation, and also the operator’s fingerprints, and sweat and oil, could
`easily adhere to the transparent touch panel switch 7, dirtying the surface, which made it difficult to see
`the display content in the LCD 4 positioned underneath, and causing still more deterioration in operability.
`[0023] This invention resolves these kinds of previous issues, and has the objective of providing an
`electronic device with good visibility of items displayed in the display area, and superior operability that
`enables quick selection of desired items.
`[0024]
`[Method for Resolving the Issues] To attain the above-mentioned objectives, this invention has the
`configuration shown below.
`[0025] The invention listed in Claim 1 of this invention is an electronic device equipped with a front
`surface display area displaying multiple selection items, and a planar input operation area, and an
`electronic device with the input operation area positioned on the back surface of the display area so that
`operation can be performed while holding in at least one hand, and since the display area is not hidden by
`fingers during operation, it has the functional effect of achieving an electronic device with good visibility
`of multiple selection items, and superior operability that enables quick selection of desired items.
`[0026] The invention listed in Claim 2 of this invention, in the invention listed in Claim 1, is a device
`with the operation position of the input operation area arrayed in correspondence to the positions of
`multiple selection items displayed in the display area, and since the operation position of the input
`operation area corresponds to the position of the display area, it has the functional effect of obtaining an
`electronic device with the operation positions of selection items being easy to recognize as a sense of the
`operator’s finger position, and superior operability.
`[0027] The invention listed in Claim 3 of this invention, in the invention listed in Claim 2, is a device
`with a convex area established in each operations position of the input operation area, in correspondence
`to the positions of multiple selection items displayed in the display area, and has the functional effect of
`obtaining an electronic device with the push-pressure operation, etc., of operation positions in the input
`operation area being easy to recognize by the operator’s finger sense of touch, and superior operability.
`[0028] The invention listed in Claim 4 of this invention, in the invention listed in Claim 2, is a device
`where the display area on the front surface, and the input operation area on the back surface, are generally
`the same size, with each selection item displayed in the display area, and each operations position of the
`input operation area corresponding to these, being installed in approximately opposing positions on the
`front and back of the device, and since the operation positions corresponding to each selection item are
`opposing positions directly in back of the device, it has the functional effect of obtaining an electronic
`device with the operator able to see the positions in the display area, to easily and accurately recognize
`the operation positions in the operations area, and superior operability.
`[0029] The invention listed in Claim 5 of this invention, in the invention listed in Claim 2, is a device
`where the input operation area on the back surface is larger than the display area on the front surface, with
`each selection item displayed in the display area, and each operations position of the input operation area
`corresponding to these, being arrayed in corresponding positions on the front and back of the device, and
`even in compact electronic devices with small display areas, it has the functional effect of obtaining an
`electronic device with reduced operation errors due to operator fingertips, to enable definitive operations.
`[0030] The invention listed in Claim 6 of this invention, in the invention listed in Claim 2, is a device
`equipped with a method enabling each selection item in the display area to be identified as selected by
`operation of the input operation area, and since selection of the requisite selection item can be clearly
`recognized due to visibility, it has the functional effect of obtaining an electronic device that can easily
`and definitively perform operations.
`[0031] The invention listed in Claim 7 of this invention, in the invention listed in Claim 6, is a device set
`so that pressing the push-pressure switch, established at each operation position in the input operation
`area, two times within the requisite time, or push-pressing longer than the requisite time, selects and
`confirms the selection item in the display area corresponding to that operation position, and has the
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`functional effect of obtaining an electronic device with the operator with just one finger and at a single
`operation position being able to select and confirm the desired item, and superior operability.
`[0032] The invention listed in Claim 8 of this invention, in the invention listed in Claim 6, is a device
`where a push-pressure switch for confirming each selection item selected by operation of the input
`operation area is established on the side surface of the device held in one hand, and has the functional
`effect of obtaining an electronic device with the operator holding the electronic device in one hand using,
`for example, the pointer finger to operate the operation area to select a selection item, and next, moving
`the thumb or other finger holding the electronic device for easy and definitive confirmation, and superior
`operability.
`[0033] The invention listed in Claim 9 of this invention, in the invention listed in Claim 2, is a device
`where tracing a fingertip in the desired direction on the planar input operation area selects or moves the
`display area selection item in accordance with the vector component obtained from the input change
`versus the multiple operation positions that were traced, and has the functional effect of realizing an
`electronic device capable of using movement of the selection item in accordance with the obtained vector
`to be able to respond to games, etc.
`[0034] The invention listed in Claim 10 of this invention, in the invention listed in Claim 2, is a device
`where the upper side part that includes the front surface display area and back surface input operation area,
`and the lower side part that includes other function areas, are coupled so that they can fold in half, and
`since it can enlarge the surface area of the display area and input operations area in comparison with types
`that cannot fold in half, it has the functional effect of obtaining an electronic device with good visibility
`of the displayed items, and capable of easy and definitive operations.
`[0035] The invention listed in Claim 11 of this invention, in the invention listed in Claim 10, is a device
`where the upper side part that includes the front surface display area and back surface input operation area,
`and the lower side part that includes other function areas, can be held at an angle position of angular
`opening 150° to 170°, and has the functional effect of obtaining an electronic device where the lower side
`part that includes the electronic device and other function areas can be held in the palm of one hand to see
`the front surface display area, while the input operations area on the upper side part back surface can be
`comfortably operated with the fingers of the holding hand.
`[0036]
`[Embodiment of Invention Implementation] Embodiment of the invention implementation is described
`below using Fig.1 to Fig.12.
`[0037] (Implementation Embodiment 1) Using the Implementation Embodiment 1, the inventions of this
`invention that are particularly listed in Claims 1 to 8 are described.
`[0038] Fig.1(a) is a front surface drawing of a mobile phone as an electronic device based on the No.1
`Implementation Embodiment of this invention, and (b) is a back surface drawing for same, while Fig.2 is
`a summary cross-section diagram of same, and in this same drawing, 31 is an external covering case
`whose front surface forms the display surface, and the voice receiver 32 at the upper edge of this display
`surface, and the display area 33 in the central upper area that is the display method is configured with the
`LCD 34, while at the bottom edge the voice sender 35 and the operation buttons area 36 formed from
`alphanumeric keys, etc., in the central lower area are positioned, with one in this operation buttons area
`36 being a confirm operations key 36A for confirming the various types of operations.
`[0039] In addition, the back surface 37 is a touch panel switch as an input operations area, and the input
`operational area of this touch panel switch 37 is virtually the same size as the display area 33, to be placed
`in a position that is approximately opposing the front and back surfaces of the mobile phone.
`[0040] This touch panel switch 37, as shown in the expanded cross-section diagram of the touch panel
`switch in Fig.3, uses a partition wall 44 to open up and hold a requisite gap so that the flexible upper part
`insulation base 40 and the rigid lower part insulation base 41 do not come into contact with the
`conductive membranes 42 and 43 forming the respective opposing surfaces, and this is ordinarily called
`the analog method or resistive film method.
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`[0041] In addition, push-pressing the requisite position of the upper part insulation base 40 during input
`operation to force conduction between the above-mentioned conductive membranes 42 and 43 causes the
`requisite output signals to be obtained.
`[0042] Note that Fig.3 is expressed with the dimension in the thickness direction particularly expanded to
`make it easier to understand.
`[0043] Furthermore, on the upper part of the external covering case 31, an antenna 47 is attached so that it
`can extend and retract, as well as be housed, in relation to the external cover case 31, and within the
`external cover case 31 is contained an electrical circuit for controlling the above-mentioned display area
`33, and an operation buttons area 36, a touch panel switch 37, and the antenna 47, and the configuration
`of the mobile phone including this electrical circuit is as expressed in the block diagram showing the
`circuit configuration in Fig.4, and this circuit configuration is described below.
`[0044] In Fig.4, 48 is the CPU for performing the various arithmetic processes and judgments, etc., and
`the LCD 34, which is the above-mentioned display area 33, and the operation buttons area 36, touch panel
`switch 37, and antenna 47, are connected to the CPU 48 either directly or by way of a requisite circuit,
`etc., and controlled.
`[0045] In other words, the LCD 34 that is the display area 33 is connected to the above-mentioned CPU
`48 by way of an LCD driver 49, and controlled, and the signal from the operation buttons area 36 is
`formed so as to be directly input to the CPU 48 and processed.
`[0046] In addition, the touch panel switch 37 is connected to the above-mentioned CPU 48 by way of a
`touch panel switch driver 50, and controlled.
`[0047] In addition, to this CPU 48, the antenna 47 is also formed so as to be connected by way of a send
`and receive signal circuit 51, and controlled, and a ROM 52 in which requisite information was registered
`beforehand, and a RAM 53 where telephone number lists and other information can be registered or
`deleted as needed are connected.
`[0048] Next is a description, using this same drawing, of the mobile phone operations in this
`Implementation Embodiment.
`[0049] The mobile phone based on this Implementation Embodiment, when in the initial state when
`receive and send has not been performed, as shown in the drawing describing the display screen in Fig.5,
`has in the display area 33 a requisite initial menu 54 configured from multiple items, and a cursor 55 for
`revealing which among the displayed items are items that are currently selected.
`[0050] In addition, to perform the requisite operations such as when calling the mobile phone, etc., first
`the operator, to switch the above-mentioned display screen from the initial state to a screen where the
`desired operations could be performed, performs push-pressure operation by fingertip of the requisite part
`of the touch panel switch 37, corresponding to virtually directly in back of the position where the desired
`selection item is displayed, and moves the cursor 55 to the position of the desired selection item.
`[0051] In addition, since the touch panel switch 37, as shown in the previously appearing Fig.3, is
`configured to be formed by the conductive membranes 42 and 43 on the opposing surface to the upper
`part insulation base 40 and lower part insulation base 41, which are held at the requisite gap, push-
`pressing the requisite upper surface of the upper part insulation base 40 brings the conductive membranes
`42 and 43 at the push-pressed position into contact, and the requisite signal is sent to the CPU 48, and
`with this action, the CPU 48 controls the cursor 55 in the display area 33 so that the requisite selection
`item is revealed.
`[0052] In other words, this mobile phone is a device that uses push-pressure operation of the requisite
`position corresponding to the desired item among the items displayed in the display area 33, on the touch
`panel switch 37 positioned on the back surface of the display area 33, to align the cursor 55 position with
`the desired item, and the operator uses push-pressure operation of the above-mentioned touch panel
`switch 37 to align the cursor 55 with the desired item, and then performs push-pressure operation of the
`confirm operation key 36A to send the signal selecting and confirming the desired item to the CPU 48,
`and if the CPU 48 recognizes this confirmation signal, the item selected by the cursor 55 in the display
`area 33 is identified, and the requisite menu screen, etc., corresponding to it is called up from the ROM 52
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`or RAM 53, and this is transmitted by way of the LCD driver 49 to the LCD 34, to switch the display
`content in the display area 33 to the desired content.
`[0053] To describe the above-mentioned content in even more detail, if searching for previously
`memorized telephone numbers to call, the operator, to switch from among the items in the requisite initial
`menu 54 to a display corresponding to the “telephone No. call-up” item, push-pressures a fingertip on the
`No.1 row area of the touch panel switch 37 in a position opposite to virtually directly back of the
`“telephone No. call-up” item position shown in the display area 33, as shown in Fig.5, aligns the cursor
`55 displayed in the display area 33 with the “telephone No. call-up” item position, followed by push-
`pressure of the confirm operation key 6A.
`[0054] With this operation, the CPU 48 extracts the previously registered telephone number list
`information from the RAM 53 or ROM 52, and transmits the information to the LCD 34 by way of the
`LCD driver 49, to switch the display area 33 display to the telephone number list.
`[0055] Next, the operator push-pressures a fingertip on the touch panel switch 37, in the same way as
`above, to align the cursor 55 position with the desired telephone number, and presses the confirm
`operation key 36A to select and confirm the desired telephone number.
`[0056] If the desired telephone number is confirmed in this way in the CPU 48, the CPU 48 performs the
`requisite process to send a send signal by way of the send and receive circuit area 51 and antenna 47, in
`regards to the telephone number confirmed by the above-mentioned search, and enables activation of the
`voice receiver 32 and voice sender 35.
`[0057] According to this Implementation Embodiment as shown here, since operation is performed by
`fingertip push-pressure of the touch panel switch 37 on the back surface of the display area 33, even if
`there is a large number of selection items, the display items when selecting are not hidden by fingers, for
`good visibility, to easily and quickly enable alignment of the cursor 55 position with the desired item, for
`superior operability, and also it is difficult to dirty the display area 33 display with the operator’s
`fingerprints, and sweat and oil, and because the touch panel switch 37 is positioned on the back side of
`the voice receiver, it is difficult for sweat or oil to adhere to the region around the ear of the operator
`when engaged in conversation, to achieve a mobile phone with superior reliability of the operations areas.
`[0058] Note that, in the above description, the case of display using the cursor 55 was described, as the
`method for identifying which item out of the items displayed in the display area 33 are currently selected,
`but the characters displaying the selected items may also have colors changed or set to flashing, and, in
`addition, may also be identified by voice expression of the item content.
`[0059] In addition, as shown in the back surface drawing of the mobile phone in Fig.6, if a convex area 38
`with size big enough to be recognized by fingertip is established in each operation position aligned with
`item positions of the most standard display in the display area 33, on the front surface of the touch panel
`switch 37 positioned on the back surface of the display area 33, when the touch panel switch 37 is subject
`to push-pressure operation, the fingertip sense of touch can be used to easily recognize the operation
`position, and since the fingertip can perform operation by contacting the convex area 38, the desired item
`can be definitively selected.
`[0060] Furthermore, in the above description, while an example where the confirm operation key 36A
`was configured as a separate button was described, it is also acceptable to identify and confirm
`information with the touch panel switch 37 set to ON, and in this case, since the selection signal output
`during the above-mentioned push-pressure operation can be identified, when, for example, an output
`signal from the touch panel switch 37 is input two times in succession to the CPU 48 within a requisite
`period, this can be configured so that the CPU 48 can identify it as a confirmation signal, or if the same
`output signal from the touch panel switch 37 is input to the CPU 48 over a period longer than the set
`requisite period, this can be set so that the CPU 48 can identify it as a confirmation signal.
`[0061] In addition, as shown in the front surface drawing of a mobile phone in Fig.7, establishment of a
`push button switch 39 on the side surface of the external cover case 31, as a confirm operation key can
`enable an operator holding the mobile phone with for example, the pointer finger to operate the operation
`area on the back side to select a selection item, and next, mov