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US5742476A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Information processing apparatus with positioners corresponding to display input region

Assignee: Sharp Corp
•
Filing: 1996-04-24
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Granted: 1998-04-21
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Expires: 2016-04-24
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Abstract

Abstract An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input panel disposed in the opening which includes a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region. The positioners are convertible between a first position in which they protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which they are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude from the surface of the body.

Inventors

  • 👤 Nobuhiko Miyazaki
  • 👤 Kyoko Gamo

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 18:27
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B21/00; G09B21/001; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1601; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0489; G06F2200/00; G06F2200/16; G06F2200/161; G06F2200/1612

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 73 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening and concave portions outside the opening; display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching, the keys; and positioners received in the concave portions of the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 73 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening and concave portions outside the opening; display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching, the keys; and positioners received in the concave portions of the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input region is placed along at least an edge of the opening and includes a plurality of key regions, and wherein the positioners are provided for at least each boundary of the key regions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
An information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising positioners provided on the body corresponding to boundaries between the display region and the input regions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 50 words
An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input region is provided in both sides in the display/input means along corresponding edges of the opening, and includes a plurality of key regions, and wherein the body comprises a pair of positioners each provided for the corresponding input region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 191 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region; wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body; wherein the body comprises: concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be rotatable between the first and second position; and holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position; and wherein each of the positioners includes a rugged face on a portion which is a top face when the positioner is at the first position protruding from the surface of the body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 191 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region; wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body; wherein the body comprises: concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be rotatable between the first and second position; and holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position; and wherein each of the positioners includes a rugged face on a portion which is a top face when the positioner is at the first position protruding from the surface of the body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 168 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region; wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body; wherein the body comprises: concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be slidable between the first and second position; guide slots for guiding slide motion of the respective positioners; and holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 168 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region; wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body; wherein the body comprises: concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be slidable between the first and second position; guide slots for guiding slide motion of the respective positioners; and holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 200 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region; wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body; wherein the body comprises: concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be slidable between the first and second position; guide slots for guiding slide motion of the respective positioners; and holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position; and wherein each of the positioners has projection members for engaging in the guide slots so as to slide guided by the guide slots, and wherein the holding means are elastic members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 200 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region; wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body; wherein the body comprises: concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be slidable between the first and second position; guide slots for guiding slide motion of the respective positioners; and holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position; and wherein each of the positioners has projection members for engaging in the guide slots so as to slide guided by the guide slots, and wherein the holding means are elastic members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 201 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region; wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body; wherein the body comprises: concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be slidable between the first and second position; guide slots for guiding slide motion of the respective positioners; and holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position; and wherein each of the positioners includes a rugged face on a portion which is a top face when the positioner is at the first position protruding from the surface of the body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 201 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region; wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body; wherein the body comprises: concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be slidable between the first and second position; guide slots for guiding slide motion of the respective positioners; and holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position; and wherein each of the positioners includes a rugged face on a portion which is a top face when the positioner is at the first position protruding from the surface of the body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 111 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region; wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 111 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region; wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 176 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region; wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body; and wherein the input region is divided into a plurality of sub-regions, a key being displayed using at least one sub-region, and wherein the positioners are provided for at least each boundary of the sub-regions, positioners corresponding to a boundary of the keys being set at the first position, while positioners not corresponding to a boundary of the keys being set at the second position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 176 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region; wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body; and wherein the input region is divided into a plurality of sub-regions, a key being displayed using at least one sub-region, and wherein the positioners are provided for at least each boundary of the sub-regions, positioners corresponding to a boundary of the keys being set at the first position, while positioners not corresponding to a boundary of the keys being set at the second position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 158 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region; wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body; wherein the body comprises: concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be rotatable between the first and second position; and holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 158 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region; wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body; wherein the body comprises: concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be rotatable between the first and second position; and holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 191 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region; wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body; wherein the body comprises: concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be rotatable between the first and second position; and holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position; and wherein each of the positioners rotates around an axis, the axis being engaged in axis holes which are provided in the concave portion; and wherein the holding means is an elastic member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 191 words
An information processing apparatus comprising: a body having an opening; a display/input means disposed in the opening, including a display region for displaying information and an input region for displaying keys for inputting data, the data being input by touching the keys; and positioners provided on the body in the vicinity of the opening corresponding to the input region, for indicating the input region; wherein the positioners are convertible between a first position in which the positioners protrude from a surface of the body to be sensed and a second position in which the positioners are accommodated in the body so as not to protrude along the surface of the body; wherein the body comprises: concave portions provided with respect to the positioners for accommodating the positioners so as to be rotatable between the first and second position; and holding means provided in the respective concave portions for respectively fixing the positioners at the first or second position; and wherein each of the positioners rotates around an axis, the axis being engaged in axis holes which are provided in the concave portion; and wherein the holding means is an elastic member.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4667299A Cited
JPS6231337A Cited
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JPH01142034A Cited
JPH039033A Cited
JPH047615A Cited
US5347630A Cited
EP0622723A2 Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-04-20 2001-10-20 2002-04-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-04-20 2005-10-20 2006-04-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-04-20 2009-10-20 2010-04-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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