Abstract:
A portable electronic device with switchable interfaces is provided. The device comprises a body with a touch panel, and a plurality of panels which can be used alternatively. The body is disposed with a corresponding interface panel for displaying one of the plurality of user interfaces, thus an interface adaptable for users to operate can be provided depending on the requirements of the use situation. Moreover, the panel further comprises an identifying element for generating an identification signal when disposed in the body, such that the user interface can be switched and can display a state corresponding to the selected panel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0002]     The invention relates to a portable electronic device, and more particularly to a portable electronic device with switchable interfaces.  
         [0003]     2. Related Art  
         [0004]     Portable electronic devices, such as cell phones, digital cameras, digital video cameras, multimedia players, portable game machines, electronic dictionaries, personal digital assistant devices, global positioning systems, and audio-visual satellite navigation systems are becoming popular, and different devices are starting to be integrated with multiple functions. However, different use situations demand different user interfaces. For example, display and keyboard are used in cell phones, portable game machines, electronic dictionaries, digital cameras, digital video cameras, multimedia players, and the like, but the size of the display, the number of the keys, and the positions of the keys suitable for each device are not the same. For example, a cell phone has the display disposed above the keyboard and has keys numbering between ten and twenty, while a portable game machine has a display larger than that of the cell phone but has keys fewer than those of the cell phone and in a different arrangement. Further, the touch panel having functions of displaying and inputting is used in the personal digital assistant device, global positioning system, and audio-visual satellite navigation system. Therefore, it has become an important subject to maintain various user interfaces when integrating various functions of portable electronic devices, so as to provide preferable convenience for users.  
         [0005]     Recently, some methods of switchable interfaces have been proposed. For example, ROC Utility Model Publication NO. M273137 published in 11 Aug. 2005 discloses a multimode key module, which employs a movement mechanism for dislocating the printed keyboard and the keyboard display lattice, such that the lattice corresponds to different key printed pictures, thus generating different key modules. Moreover, the movement mechanism is used to dislocate the key circuit board and the touch-control sensing plate, thus generating different touch panel key modules. The method can provide different key modules, but the arrangement and size of the display are not changed, and the movement mechanism is difficult to be implemented in the portable electronic device since the portable electronic device are required to have small volume. Besides, ROC Publication NO. 00573273 published in 21 Jan. 2004 discloses a user interface used in a plurality of electronic devices. The user interface is independent from each electronic device and remotely controls each electronic device with a wireless communication function. The touch panel on the user interface will receive and display the screen layout and content of the selected electronic device, thus achieving the function of switchable interfaces. However, in the situation that the touch panel is used in a portable game machine or cell phone, since the user is used to use keys, an inconvenience may arise. And the user interface independent of each electronic device is not adaptable in portable electronic devices.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     A main object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device with switchable interfaces, to solve the problems existing in the prior art.  
         [0007]     Therefore, in order to achieve the above object, a portable electronic device with switchable interfaces disclosed in the present invention has a body provided with a touch panel. The touch panel has a plurality of switchable user interfaces each of which has a key-in area and display area with different layouts respectively in order to be compatible with different use situations. Furthermore, the portable electronic device further comprises a plurality of alternative panels for covering the touch panel. Each of the alternative panels corresponds to a user interface one-to-one, and has a key area and a window area. The window area responds to the display area for observing pictures and information during operation. And the key corresponds to the key-in area for inputting operational instructions from the panel via the touch panel. Moreover, in order to improve the convenience of switching interfaces, the above panel can be additionally provided with an identifying element. And the body has a determining element for receiving the identifying element, thus when the panel covers the touch panel, a switch signal can be provided for switching to the user interface corresponding to the panel.  
         [0008]     To sum up, with the technical means of the present invention, the problems of the conventional technique can be solved efficiently. And an interface facilitating the users&#39; operation can be provided depending on the requirement of the using situation, thus it has characteristics of industrial application, innovation, and progress. The features and practices related to the present invention will be described in detail through the preferred embodiment accompanied with drawings.  
         [0009]     Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only for, and which thus is not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a structural diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  are schematic views of the implementation of the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  are diagrams of a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4D  are diagrams of a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5D  are diagrams of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , it shows a diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention, and the structure thereof comprises a body  11  of the portable electronic device, a touch panel  12  on the body, and a plurality of panels for covering the touch panel  12  respectively (for example, two panels  15 ,  18  in the drawing, but the present invention is not limited to the two panels  15 ,  18 ). The touch panel  12  has a plurality of switchable user interfaces (not shown).  
         [0019]     Then, referring to  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , the implementation of the first embodiment is described in detail. As shown in the drawings, the body  11  has grooves  21 ,  22 , and the panel  15  has hooks  27 ,  28 , and the panel  18  has hooks  29 ,  30 . The hooks  27 ,  28  or  29 ,  30  are embedded in the grooves  21 ,  22  in corresponding positions when the panel  15  or the panel  18  covers the body  11  respectively. The panel  15  has a window area  16  and a key area  17 , and the other panel  18  has a window area  19  and a key area  20 . In the first embodiment, only user interfaces  120 ,  121  corresponding to the above panels  15 ,  18  are illustrated; however, the present invention is not limited to the two user interfaces  120 ,  121 . The user interface  120  has a display area  13  and a key-in area  14 , and the other user interface  121  has a display area  25  and a key-in area  26 . After the panel  15  or  18  covers the body  11 , the window area  16  or  19  thereof just covers the corresponding display area  13  or  25 , for observing the pictures and information during operation. At the same time, the key area  17  or  20  covers the corresponding key-in area  14  or  26 , such that when the user presses the key area  17  or  20  of the panel  15  or  18 , an operational instruction is input through the touch panel. Moreover, the touch panel  12  further comprises a plurality of switching keys. When pressing the switching keys, the user interfaces can be switched. The switching keys  23 ,  24  are illustrated in the present invention; however, the present invention is not limited in the two switching keys  23 ,  24 . The switching keys  23 ,  24  correspond to the user interfaces  120 ,  121  respectively. When the switching key  23  is pressed, the touch panel  12  will display the user interface  120 , as shown in  FIG. 2A , in which the cell phone interface arrangement is illustrated. When the switching key  24  is pressed, the touch panel  12  will display the user interface  121 , as shown in  FIG. 2B , in which the portable game machine interface arrangement is illustrated.  
         [0020]     When the touch panel  12  displays the user interface  120 , as shown in  FIG. 2A , the hooks  27 ,  28  are embedded in the grooves  21 ,  22  respectively, such that the panel  15  covers the touch panel  12 , and after covering, the window area  16  covers the display area  13 , and the key area  17  covers the key-in area  14 . At this time, the key area  17  provide an operation mode suitable for inputting with keys under the situation of using a cell phone is used, and the size and position of the display provided by the window area  16  can be adapted to the requirements of the cell phone.  
         [0021]     After taking off the panel  15  on the touch panel  12 , switching keys  24  are used to make the touch panel  12  display the user interfaces  121 , as shown in  FIG. 2B . At this time, the panel  18  is selected, and the hooks  29 ,  30  are embedded in the grooves  21 ,  22  respectively, such that the panel  18  covers the touch panel  12 . After covering, the window area  19  covers the display area  25 , and the key area  20  covers the key-in area  26 , at this time, the key area  20  provides a key operation and key arrangement mode suitable for the situation of using the portable game machine. And the display of the window area  19  is not only large, but also is located in a suitable position meeting the requirements of the portable game machine.  
         [0022]     If the panel  18  of the touch panel  12  is taken off, the switching key  23  is used to switch the user interface to the user interface  120 . At this time, the panel  15  covers the touch panel  12 , and the device is suitable for the situation of cell phone again. According to the above method, interfaces of the portable electronic devices can be switched, thus providing operational convenience for the user, and avoiding the problem that some functions are abandoned when integrating various functions together.  
         [0023]     The way of covering can be changed depending on the requirement of implementation, which will be described in a second embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B , the body  11  has alloy iron plates  31 ,  32 . The panel  15  has magnet plates  33 ,  34 . And the panel  18  has magnet plates  35 ,  36 . The switching key  23  is used to switch the user interface to the user interface  120 , as shown in  FIG. 3A , and the corresponding panel  15  is selected. Then the magnet plates  33 ,  34  attract the alloy iron plates  31 ,  32  and are attached to them respectively, such that the panel  15  covers the touch panel  12 . If the user interface is desired to be switched, the panel  15  on the touch panel  12  is taken off, and the switching key  24  is used to switch the user interface to the user interface  121 , as shown in  FIG. 3B . At this time, the panel  18  is selected, and the magnet plates  35 ,  36  attract the alloy iron plates  31 ,  32  and are attached to them respectively, such that the panel  18  covers the touch panel  12 .  
         [0024]     Moreover, in order to enhance the convenience of switching interfaces, the above panel can be further provided with an identifying element, and the body has a determining element for receiving the identifying element. After the panel covers the touch panel, a switch signal can be provided, for switching the user interface to the corresponding one of the panel, which is illustrated in a third embodiment herein. Referring to  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4D , the panels  15 ,  18  of the first embodiment are provided with bumps  37 ,  38  for identification. The bump  37  corresponds to the switching key  23 , and the bump  38  corresponds to the switching key  24 . When the touch panel  12  displays the user interface  120 , the panel  18  not corresponding to the touch panel  12  is selected, as shown in  FIG. 4A . The hooks  29 ,  30  are embedded in the grooves  21 ,  22  respectively, such that the panel  18  covers the touch panel  12 . At the same time, the bump  38  presses the switching key  24 , switching the user interface to the user interface  121 . After covering and switching, the window area  19  covers the display area  25 , and the key area  20  covers the key-in area  26 , as shown in  FIG. 4B . When the user interface is desired to be switched, the panel  18  is taken off at first. At this time, the touch panel  12  displays the user interface  121 , and the panel  15  not corresponding to the touch panel  12  is selected, as shown in  FIG. 4C . The hooks  27 ,  28  are embedded in the grooves  21 ,  22  respectively, such that the panel  15  covers the touch panel  12 . At the same time, the bump  37  presses the switching key  23 , switching the user interface to the user interface  120 . After covering and switching, the window area  16  covers the display area  13 , and the key area  17  covers the key-in area  14 , as shown in  FIG. 4D . According to this identification method, it is convenient for the user to finish switching interfaces just by closing the panel, without selecting the user interface on the touch panel in advance, which is helpful for reducing the complexity of the switching.  
         [0025]     The identification method can be changed depending on the requirement of the implementation, which will be described in a fourth embodiment herein. Referring to  FIG. 5A  to  FIG. 5D , a chip slot  39  is built in the alloy iron plate  32  of the second embodiment, and chips  40 ,  41  are embedded in the magnet plates  34 ,  36  respectively. When the touch panel  12  displays the user interface  120 , the panel  18  not corresponding to the touch panel  12  is selected, as shown in  FIG. 5A . The magnet plate  35 ,  36  attract the alloy iron plates  31 ,  32  and are attached to them respectively, such that the panel  18  covers the touch panel  12 . At this time, the chip  41  is inserted in the slot  39 , for providing a switch signal to switch the user interface to the user interface  121 . After covering and switching, the window area  19  covers the display area  25 , and the key area  20  covers the key-in area  26 , as shown in  FIG. 5B . If the user interface is desired to be switched, the panel  18  on the touch panel  12  is taken off at first. At this time, the touch panel  12  displays the user interface  121 , and the panel  15  not corresponding to the touch panel  12  is selected, as shown in  FIG. 5C . The magnet plates  33 ,  34  attract the alloy iron plates  31 ,  32  and are attached to them respectively, such that the panel  15  covers the touch panel  12 . At this time, the chip  40  is inserted in the slot  39 , for providing a switch signal to switch the user interface to the user interface  120 . After covering and switching, the window area  16  covers the display area  13 , and the key area  17  covers the key-in area  14 , as shown in  FIG. 5D . According to the identification method, the different chips on the panels are used to determine and switch the user interfaces corresponding to the different panels, without using the switching keys on the touch panel as the medium.  
         [0026]     The above implementation can be further used in switching more than two interfaces, which is described in a fifth embodiment herein. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the touch panel  12  has a switching key  42 . When pressing the switching key  42 , the touch panel  12  displays a user interface  122  (the interface arrangement of a multimedia player is illustrated in the drawing). The user interface  122  corresponds to a panel  45 , and the panel  45  has a window area  46  and a key area  47 , while the user interface  122  has a display area  43  and a key-in area  44 . Moreover, the panel  45  has hooks  48 ,  49  for being embedded in the grooves  21 ,  22 , such that the panel  45  covers the touch panel  12 . After covering, the window area  46  covers the display area  43 , and the key area  47  covers the key-in area  44 . Besides, when the touch panel  12  displays the user interface  120  or  121 , referring to  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , the panel  45  is further provided with a bump  50  used as an identifying element. The bump  50  presses the switching key  42  when covering, so as to switch the user interface to the user interface  122 . In view of the above embodiments, more than two switchable interfaces can be successfully provided in a portable electronic device.  
         [0027]     Further, the panel of the invention needs not to cover the whole touch panel, and has a hollow or an empty window area. Therefore, more than one panel can cover the touch panel simultaneously, which is described in a sixth embodiment herein. As shown in  FIG. 7 , a panel  51  has a key area  52  and an empty window area  53 , and a panel  54  has a key area  55  and a hollow window area  56 . The key area  52  corresponds to the key-in area  26   a , and the key area  55  corresponds to the key-in area  26   b . The panels  51 ,  54  are further provided with magnet plates  57 ,  58  respectively. The magnet plates  57  attracts and is attached to the alloy iron plate  31 , such that the panel  51  covers the touch panel  12 , allowing the key area  52  cover the key-in area  26   a . And the magnet plate  58  attracts and is attached to the alloy iron plate  32 , such that the panel  54  covers the touch panel  12 , allowing the key area  55  cover the key-in area  26   b . The empty window area  53  and the hollow window area  56  only with a frame allow the display area  25  directly used as the display.  
         [0028]     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.