Patent ID: 6297795
Filing Date: 2001-10-02
Classification: G06F,G09G

Abstract:
An information processing apparatus for providing appropriate scroll functionality for both portrait and landscape display modes, said information processor comprising:a main body having a front surface, an upper side wall, and left and right side walls and sized to be held in and manipulated by the hand of a user, said left and right side walls intersecting to define a corner;a display screen mounted in said main body and viewable on the front surface of said main body;a rotary switch directing the scrolling of data on said display screen, said rotary switch being mounted adjacent the upper left corner of said main body between the left side wall and the upper side wall of said main body, so that a manipulation portion of said rotary switch is exposed relative to both said left side and said upper side;a display mode switch for selecting a display mode for said display screen between a portrait mode and a landscape mode; anda scrolling direction control operatively connected with said rotary switch and said display mode switch wherein said scrolling direction control changes the scrolling direction of data displayed on the display screen in accordance with the selected display mode so that data displayed in either of the portrait and landscape modes is scrolled vertically as the rotary switch is rotated;wherein said rotary switch comprises a rotation sensor that effectuates scrolling responsive to rotation of said manipulation portion, and a pressure sensor that effectuates scrolling direction control responsive to pressure applied horizontally or vertically against said manipulation portion.