Patent Publication Number: US-2010113101-A1

Title: Mobile terminal

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal for suitably preventing false triggering of a touch-type input unit. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A variety of input devices are used for various types of mobile terminals such as cellular phones. For example, mobile terminals equipped with a so-called jog dial have been known with capability of achieving a faster and simpler input operation than an operation using operation keys by pressing the keys (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-41641) The jog dial is, in general, rotationally operable in both normal and opposite directions. Various types of information such as characters, images, and the like which has been stored in advance, are scroll-displayed on a display screen in accordance with the rotational direction of the jog dial. 
     Further, for mobile terminals like cellular phones in particular, a variety of types of housings, i.e., a slide-type, a flip-type, a swivel-type, and a reversible-type, are adopted. 
     For example, a mobile terminal having an opening/closing structure may form a close state so as to be carried in a compact state. In addition, when the mobile terminal is in use, the mobile terminal forms an open state, in which a keypad such as operation keys is exposed widely, allowing an input operation to be performed easily. 
     Each of the types of the cellular phones as described above has own advantages as well as drawbacks, and various techniques to eliminate such drawbacks have been disclosed (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-215218) 
     When operating a movable-type input device that requires a rotational or sliding operation such as a jog dial, a user uses his/her fingers to perform a rotational or sliding operation in accordance with a movable range of the input device to perform an input operation. 
     Along with the current trend of downsizing mobile terminals, a movable-type input device such as a jog dial has also been downsized. As a result, when performing a rotational operation of the jog dial with a finger, the finger may go out of the jog dial, mostly resulting in unintentional touches to a surface area of a housing or the other input devices of the mobile terminal. 
     On the other hand, a mobile terminal including touch sensors with which a user can perform an input operation by touching the sensors with his/her finger has become widely known in recent years. In striving for further improvement in easiness in use, a mobile terminal including both the jog dial and the touch sensors as units for performing an input operation has become known. 
     Here, if the jog dial and the touch sensors are disposed adjacent to each other, there may be a case where the finger of the user operating the jog dial unintentionally touches the touch sensors as described above. Therefore, when operating the jog dial, chances are high that the mobile terminal causes false triggering due to unintentional touches to the touch sensors. 
     Disposal of the touch sensors at positions where no touch to the touch sensors occurs when operating the jog dial may be considered. However, with the current trend of downsizing the mobile terminals, actually, the arrangement of input units such as operation keys, a jog dial, and touch sensors, i.e., positioning relative to one another, is highly restrictive. 
     On the other hand, in a mobile terminal having an opening/closing structure, when a shift movement between an open state and a close state is caused, a sliding or rotational movement is to be performed while the housing of the mobile terminal is held in one or both hands of the user. 
     In the mobile terminal having touch sensors as described above, there may be a case where the finger of the user, which performs a shift movement between the open state and the close state, unintentionally touches touch sensors. Therefore, during a shift movement between an open state and a close state, there has been a problem that the false triggering occurs very frequently due to unintentional touches to touch sensors. Further, with the current trend of downsizing mobile terminals, devices such as touch sensors, operation keys, a display, etc. are compact-sized together and unintentional touches to touch sensors may occur more frequently. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems and it is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile terminal capable of preventing the false triggering of an operation caused by unintentional touches to a touch-type input unit. 
     To solve the problems described above, a mobile terminal according to the present invention has a housing; a touch-type input unit configured to accept an input of a first instruction by detecting a touch to a touch face formed on a surface of the housing; a movable unit; a detecting unit configured to detect an operation to the movable unit; and a control unit configured to negate the first instruction during detecting the operation by the detecting unit even if the touch-type input unit accepts the input. 
     It may be desired that the movable unit is a movable-type input unit configured to accept an input of a second instruction on the basis of the operation, the movable-type input unit being provided on the surface of the housing. 
     It may be desired that when the initiation of the operation of the movable-type input unit is detected, the control unit negates the first instruction by causing the touch-type input unit to be in an off state in which no input is accepted. 
     It may be desired that when the initiation of the operation of the movable-type input unit is detected, the control unit negates the first instruction by discarding the detection of the input accepted by the touch-type input unit. 
     It may be desired that the housing is the movable unit performing a shift movement between a first state and a second state different from the first state, the detecting unit detects the shift movement between the first state and the second state. 
     It may be desired that when the initiation of the shift movement of the housing is detected, the control unit negates the first instruction by causing the touch-type input unit to be in an off state in which no input is accepted. 
     It may be desired that when the completion of the shift movement of the housing is detected, the control unit negates the first instruction by discarding the detection of the input accepted by the touch-type input unit. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a mobile terminal including a housing; a touch-type input unit configured to accept an input of a first instruction by detecting a touch to a touch face provided on a surface of the housing; a movable-type input unit configured to accept an input of a second instruction, the movable-type input unit being provided on the surface of the housing; and a control unit configured to negate the first instruction during detecting the input of the movable-type input unit even if the touch-type input unit accepts the input. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a mobile terminal including a housing configured to performe a shift movement between a first state and a second state different from the first state; a touch-type input unit configured to accept an input of an instruction by detecting a touch to a touch face provided on a surface of the housing; a detecting unit configured to detect the shift movement of the housing between the first state and the second state; and a control unit configured to negate the first instruction during detecting the shift movement of the housing even if the touch-type input unit accepts the input. 
     The mobile terminal according to the present invention is capable of preventing the false triggering of an operation caused by unintentional touches to a touch-type input unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  show an external configuration of a slide-type cellular phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows an internal configuration of the cellular phone according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  shows an explanatory view illustrating an example of an operation of a jog dial according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart explaining an input process at a time of operating a jog dial, executed by a control unit of the cellular phone according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart explaining another input process at a time of operating a jog dial, executed by a control unit of the cellular phone according to the first embodiment; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  show an external configuration of a slide-type cellular phone according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows an internal configuration of the cellular phone according to the second embodiment; 
         FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  8 C show an explanatory view illustrating an example of a shift movement of the cellular phone from a close state to an open state according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart explaining an input process at a time of a shift movement of the housings is performed, executed by a control unit of the cellular phone according to the second embodiment; and 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart explaining another input process at a time of performing the shift movement of the housings, executed by a control unit of the cellular phone according to the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment  
     A mobile terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below, with reference to the appended drawings. 
       FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  are diagrams showing configurations of the outer appearance of a slide-type cellular phone  1 , an example of the mobile terminals according to the present invention.  FIG. 1A  shows a configuration of the outer appearance of the cellular phone  1  viewed from a front side thereof, when the cellular phone  1  is extended so that a second operation section  21  is exposed (open state).  FIG. 1B  shows a configuration of the outer appearance of the cellular phone  1  viewed from the front side thereof, when the cellular phone  1  is contracted so that the main surface of a lower housing  12  and the back face of an upper housing  13  are folded together (close state). 
     In the cellular phone  1  as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , a display  14  on the main surface of the upper housing  13  is normally exposed. In order that the cellular phone  1  shifts from a close state in which the upper housing  13  is superposed on the lower housing  12  as shown in  FIG. 1B  to an open state as shown in  FIG. 1A , the upper housing  13  is caused to slide in a direction of an arrow X relative to the lower housing  12 , whereby the second operation section  21  on the lower housing  12  appears. 
     Almost the entire area of the main surface of the upper housing  13  is occupied by the display  14 . The display  14  may display, in addition to the condition of air reception and the remaining battery level, the contents of e-mails, simplified websites, and the like. The display  14  includes, for example, an LCD, an organic EL display, or an inorganic EL display. 
     In the area below the display  14 , there is a first operation section  15  with which restricted operations are performed. The first operation section  15  is provided with an input device (input unit) including a jog dial  17  and touch sensors  18 . 
     The jog dial  17  includes a push button  19  with which an input can be performed by pressing and a rotatable ring  20  that is configured to rotate and provided circularly around the push button  19 . The jog dial  17  functions, together with a control unit (a control unit  41  of  FIG. 2 ), as a movable-type input unit which accepts an input of a second instruction by detecting initiation and completion of the motion of the rotatable ring  20 . The jog dial  17  is a disk-type jog dial, which rotates around an axis orthogonal to the surface of the upper housing  13 . Further, the cellular phone  1  outputs rotational signals in accordance with the rotational direction of the rotatable ring  20  and executes the predetermined processes on the basis of the change patterns of the rotational signals. 
     A predetermined number (e.g., four) of touch sensors  18  are disposed around the jog dial  17 . The touch sensors  18  function as a touch-type input unit which accepts an input of a first instruction by detecting a touch to each touch faces. A variety of systems such as a capacitance system, a resistive system, an acoustic pulse system, an ultrasound system, a surface elastic wave system, an infrared light-interception system, and an electromagnetic induction system may be applied to the touch sensors  18 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , on the main surface of the lower housing  12 , a second operation section  21  with which input operations are performed by, for example, pressing is disposed. The second operation section  21  is hidden behind the back of the upper housing  13  in a close state. The second operation section  21  is provided with an input unit which includes operation keys  22 . With the operation keys  22 , it is possible to input numbers from “0” to “9,” Japanese “kana” characters from the first row for “a” to the final row for “wa”, and alphabets from “A” to “Z.” 
     Incidentally, a variety of input units provided to the first operation section  15  and the second operation section  21  are mere an example, and the keys to which another functions are allocated may further be provided to the first and second operation sections  15  and  21 . 
     A microphone which is not shown (microphone  24  shown in  FIG. 2 ) and a receiver (receiver  25  shown in  FIG. 2 ) are provided at predetermined positions of the lower housing  12  or the upper housing  13 , to achieve a communication function. The microphone collects the speech of the user when the user talks on the phone, and then converts the speech into electric signals. The receiver converts the electric signals into an audible speech. Further, a battery pack (not shown) is mounted on the lower housing  12  at its back side. 
       FIG. 2  shows an internal configuration of the cellular phone according to the first embodiment. A radio signal transmitted from the base station is received by the antenna  31 , passes through an antenna diplexer (DUP)  32  passes, and it input to a receiver (RX)  33 . The receiver  33  may perform mixing of the received radio signal with a local oscillation signal output from a frequency synthesizer (SYN)  34  to down-convert the received radio signal into an intermediate frequency signal. Then, the receiver  33  generates a reception baseband signal by performing a quadrature (quadrature direction) on the down-converted intermediate frequency signal. The frequency of the local oscillation signal generated from the frequency synthesizer  34  is indicated by a control signal SYN output the control unit  41 . 
     The reception baseband signal generated by the receiver  33  is input to a CDMA signal processing unit  36 . The CDMA signal processing unit  36  is provided with a RAKE receiver (not shown). In the RAKE receiver, a plurality of paths included in the reception baseband signal are de-spread with respective spread codes (i e., spread codes equivalent to those of spread reception signals). Then, after the phase in the despread signals of the respective paths in adjusted, the despread signals of the respective paths are coherent Rake combined by the RAKE receiver. A data train obtained through the RAKE combining is subjected to de-interleaving, channel decoding (error correction decoding), and binary data determination. With this operation, reception packet data having a predetermined transfer format can be obtained. The reception packet data is input to a compression/decompression processing unit  37 . 
     The compression/decompression processing unit  37  is composed of a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The compression/decompression processing unit  37  separates the reception packet data output from the CDMA signal processing unit  36  to respective media by a multiplexer/demultiplexer (not shown), and subjects the reception packet data of the separated media to a decoding process. For example, in a call mode, speech data included in the reception packet data and corresponding to spoken voice is decoded by a speech codec. If video data is including in the reception packet data, such as in case of a video phone mode, the video data is decoded by video codec. For example, if the reception packet data is download content, the download content is decompressed (expanded) and output to the control unit  41 . 
     A digital speech signal obtained by decoding is supplied to a PCM codec  38 . The PCM codec  38  PCM-decodes the digital signal output from the compression/decompression processing unit  37 , and outputs an analog speech signal obtained by the PCM decoding to a receiving amplifier  39 . The analog speech signal is amplified by the receiving amplifier  39  and output by the receiver  25 . 
     A digital video signal obtained through decoding performed by a video codec of the compression/decompression processing unit  37  is input to the control unit  41 . The control unit  41  causes the display  14  to display a video image based on the digital video signal output from the compression/decompression processing unit  37  through a not shown video RAM (for example, VRAM and the like). The control unit  41  causes the display  14  to display via the RAM. 
     If the reception data is an e-mail message, the compression/decompression processing unit  37  supplies the e-mail massage to the control unit  41 . The control unit  41  causes a storage unit  42  to store the e-mail message supplied from the compression/decompression processing unit  37 . Then in response to the user&#39;s operation of the input unit, the control unit  41  reads the e-mail message stored in the storage unit  42  and causes the display  14  to display the read e-mail message. 
     On the other hand, in the call mode, a speaker&#39;s (user&#39;s) speech signal (analog speech signal) input to the microphone  24  is amplified to a proper level by a transmitting amplifier  40  and PCM-coding by the PCM codec  38 . A digital speech signal obtained by the PCM coding is input to the compression/decompression processing unit  37 . An e-mail message, which is text data generated by the control unit  41 , is also input to the compression/decompression processing unit  37 . 
     The compression/decompression processing unit  37  may compression-code the digital speech signal from the PCM codec  38  in a format corresponding to a predetermine transmission data rate. Thus, speech data is generated. Also, the compression/decompression processing unit  37  compression-codes the digital video signal from the control unit  41  so as to generate video data. Then, the compression/decompression processing unit  37  causes the multiplexer/demultiplexer to multiplex the speech data and the video data into transmission packet data in accordance with a predetermined transmission format. The compression/decompression processing unit  37  packetizes the data multiplexed in the multiplexer/demultiplexer. 
     The compression/decompression processing unit  37  outputs the transmission packet data after the packetization to the CDMA signal processing unit  36 . When an e-mail message is output from the control unit  41 , the compression/decompression processing unit  37  similarly cause the multiplexer/demultiplexer to multiplex the e-mail message into transmission packet data 
     The CDMA signal processing unit  36  uses a spread code assigned to a transmission channel to perform spread spectrum processing on the transmission packet data output from the compression/decompression processing unit  37 , and outputs an output signal generated by the spread spectrum processing to a transmitter (TX)  35 . The transmitter  35  modulates the signal after the spread spectrum processing by using a digital modulation method such as a QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) method. The transmitter  35  synthesizes the transmission signal after the digital modulation with the local oscillation signal generated from the frequency synthesizer  34  to up-convert the transmission signal into the radio signal. Then, the transmitter  35  high-frequency-amplifies the radio signal generated by the up-conversion so as to obtain the transmission power level indicated by the control unit  41 . The high-frequency-amplified radio signal is supplied to the antenna  31  through the antenna diplexer  32  and transmitted to the base station from the antenna  31 . 
     Further, the cellular phone  1  is provided with a timer circuit  45  indicating an exact current time and a predetermined time. 
     The control unit  41  includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The CPU executes various kinds of processing in accordance with programs stored in the ROM or various application programs loaded from the storage unit  42  into the RAM. The CPU generates various control signals and supplies the generated control signals to the components in the cellular phone  1  to control the overall operation of the cellular phone  1 . The RAM appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU to execute the various processing. Further, the control unit  41  also includes a video RAM that temporarily stores information about moving images displayed on the display  14 . 
     The storage unit  42  is, for example, a flash memory device, which is an electronically erasable and programmable read only memory, or an HDD (Hard Disc Drive). The storage unit  42  stores the various application programs executed by the CPU in the control unit  41  or various data groups. A power supply circuit  44  generates a predetermined operating power supply voltage Vcc based on a power of a battery  43  and supplies the voltage to each circuit portion. 
       FIG. 3  is an explanatory view illustrating an example of an operation of the jog dial  17  according to the present embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 3 , in order that a user rotates the rotatable ring  20  of the jog dial  17 , the user presses his/her finger against the rotatable ring  20 , and then rotates the rotatable ring  20  in a clock-wise or counter-clockwise direction about the push button  19 . When doing this, it is highly likely that the finger of the user goes out of the jog dial  17 , resulting in high likelihood that the finger of the user touches the touch sensors  18  disposed around the jog dial  17 . 
     The cellular phone  1  according to the present embodiment is configured to suitably prevent the occurrence of false triggering of the touch sensors  18  caused by unintentional touches to the touch sensors  18  when operating the jog dial  17  disposed in the first operation section  15 . 
     In the input process at a time of operating the jog dial as will be described below, the cellular phone  1  negates an input of an instruction accepted by the touch sensors  18  by keeping the power source of the touch sensors  18  in an off state from the time when the jog dial  17  detects the initiation of the rotational operation to the time when it detects the completion of the rotational operation, thereby preventing the occurrence of the false triggering caused by unintentional touches to the touch sensors  18 . Hereinafter, details of the input process at a time of operating the jog dial will be described. 
       FIG. 4  shows a flowchart explaining an input process at a time of operating the jog dial, executed by a control unit  41  of the cellular phone  1  according to the present embodiment. The input process at a time of operating the jog dial may be initiated when an execution of the input process is initiated after the cellular phone  1  accepts an instruction of turning on the power source by a predetermined input operation, or when each operation-lock of the first operation section  15  and the second operation section  21  is released (this may be applied to the case of releasing the lock of the operation section in part, the case of releasing the jog dial  17 , or the case of releasing the lock of the touch sensors  18 . The same can be mentioned below) Further, as to the operation to the touch sensors, merely touching the touch sensors is not recognized as an input, but when the touch sensors are touched for a time longer than a predetermined period of time (“long press”) or when the touch sensors detect the completion of the touch before the predetermined period of time lapses (“short press”), the touch sensors then can detect the instruction. 
     In step S 1 , the control unit  41  turns the jog dial  17  ON The jog dial  17  detects the rotational operation of the rotatable ring  20 , whereby it becomes in a state where it can accept an input operation. In step S 2 , the control unit  41  turns the touch sensors  18  ON. The touch sensors  18  detect the initiation of a touch (hereinafter referred to as “touch”) and the completion of a touch (hereinafter referred to as “release”), whereby the touch sensors  18  become in a state where the touch sensors  18  can accept an input operation. 
     In step S 3 , the control unit  41  determines whether the input process is completed or not. The input process is completed after the cellular phone  1  accepts the instruction of turning off the power source by a predetermined input operation, or when the operation lock of the first operation section  15  or the second operation section  21  is set. When the control unit  41  determines that the input process is completed, it ends the input process at a time of operating the jog dial. 
     On the other hand, when the control unit  41  determines that the input process has not been completed, it determines whether the occurrence of predetermined events is detected in step S 4 . The predetermined events include the initiation and completion events of the rotational operation of the rotatable ring  20  of the jog dial  17  and the touch and release events of the touch sensors  18 . Incidentally, in this embodiment, the explanation as to the case where the other event processes (e.g., pressing of the operation keys  22  and an incoming call) occur is omitted. When the control unit  41  determines that predetermined events are not detected, it then returns to an input-process completion-determination step S 3 . 
     When the control unit  41  detects the occurrence of the initiation event of the rotational operation of the jog dial  17  in an event-occurrence determination-step S 4 , it turns the touch sensors  18  OFF, thereby causing the touch sensors  18  to be in an off state in which no input is accepted. Here, since the touch sensors  18  are in an off state, the control unit  41  does not detect the touch and release of the touch sensors  18 . With this arrangement, in the cellular phone  1 , even when unintentional touches to the touch sensors  18  (touch and release) occur after initiation of the rotational operation of the jog dial  17 , the false triggering of the processes allocated to the touch sensors  18  may be prevented. 
     In step S 6 , the control unit  41  sets a touch flag OFF. This touch flag is normally set ON in a flag ON step S 8 , after the touch event of the touch sensors  18  is detected in the event-occurrence determination-step S 4 . Incidentally, when the touch flag is set OFF, the control unit  41  maintains the off state as it is in step S 6 . The control unit  41  then returns to the input-process completion-determination step S 3  and repeats the subsequent processes. 
     Next, when the control unit  41  detects the completion event of the rotational operation of the jog dial  17  in the event-occurrence determination-step S 4 , in step S 7 , it turns the touch sensors  18  ON, thereby causing the touch sensors  18  to be in an on state in which an input to the touch sensors  18  is accepted. In this process, the touch sensors  18 , which have been in an off state in the touch sensor OFF step  35  in accordance with the detection of the initiation of the rotational operation of the jog dial  17 , are recovered so as to be in an on state in which an input operation can be accepted The control unit  41  then returns to the input-process completion-determination step S 3  and repeats the subsequent processes. Incidentally, the completion event of the rotational operation of the jog dial  17  is, for example, an event which occurs when no rotational operation of the jog dial  17  is detected for a predetermined period of time after the initiation Of the rotational operation of the jog dial  17 . 
     On the other hand, when the control unit  41  detects the touch event of the touch sensors  18  (The touch event of the touch sensors  18  include the case where the touch event of one of the touch sensors  18  and the case where the touch event of more than one of the touch sensors  18 . The same can be mentioned below.) in the event-occurrence determination-step S 4 , it sets the touch flag ON in step S 8 . The control unit  41  then returns to the input-process completion-determination step S 3 , and repeats the subsequent processes. 
     Further, when the control unit  41  detects the occurrence of the release event of the touch sensors  18  in the event-occurrence determination-step S 4 , it determines whether the touch flag is set ON in step S 9 . When the control unit  41  determines that the touch flag is set OFF, it discards the release event in step S 10  because the corresponding touch event does not occur. The case where a release is still detected even when the touch flag is set OFF includes the case where the touch sensors  18  are touched before initiation of the rotational operation of the jog dial  17  or during the rotational operation of the jog dial  17  (touch sensors  18  are in an off state), and then the touch sensors  18  are released after the rotational operation of the jog dial  17  is completed while the touches to the touch sensors  18  are maintained (touch sensors  18  are in an on state). 
     When the control unit  41  determines that the touch flag is set ON, it sets the touch flag OFF in step S 11 . Further, in step S 12 , the control unit  41  executes a predetermined process in accordance with the detection of the occurrence of the release event of the touch sensors  18 . That is, the control unit  41  executes a predetermined process on the basis of the input of the instruction accepted by the touch sensors  18 . Incidentally, the control unit  41  is configured to execute predetermined processes allocated to the touch sensors  18  upon the release corresponding to the detected touch is detected. The touch sensors  18  may be able to accept different kinds of input operations depending on how long the touch sensors  18  are touched (duration of touch). 
     The operation of the touch sensors  18  are not limited to the above described operations, but the touch sensors  18  may also execute the predetermined processes upon detecting a touch. The control unit  41  returns to the input-process completion-determination step S 3 , and repeats the subsequent processes. 
     In this input process at a time of operating the jog dial, the touch sensors  18  are kept turned off during the time from the initiation to the completion of the rotational operation of the jog dial  17 . With this arrangement, the touch and release events of the touch sensors  18  do not occur during the time from the initiation to the completion of the rotational operation of the jog dial  17 , and therefore it is possible to suitably prevent the occurrence of the false triggering of the touch sensors accompanying the rotational operation of the jog dial  17 . 
     Further, in the case where the events occur in an order of: (1) touch event of the touch sensors  18 ; (2) rotational operation initiation event of the jog dial  17 ; (3) rotational operation completion event of the jog dial  17 ; and (4) release event of the touch sensors  18 , the touch flag is set OFF in the flag OFF step S 6  after the occurrence of (2) rotational operation initiation event of the jog dial  17 . Thus, even when unintentional touches to the touch sensors  18  occur before the rotational operation of the jog dial  17 , it is determined that the touch flag is set OFF in the flag ON determination step S 9  after the occurrence of (4) release event of the touch sensors  18 , and the detection of the release is discarded, which prevents the occurrence of the false triggering of the touch sensors. 
     Further, since the touch sensors  18  are kept in a power-off state when rotating the jog dial  17 , it is possible to achieve power saving. 
     Next, another input process at a time of operating a jog dial, executed by the cellular phone  1  according to the present embodiment will be described. 
     In another input process at a time of operating a jog dial as will be described below, in the case where the touch or release event of the touch sensors  18  occurs from the time when the jog dial  17  detects initiation of the rotational operation to the time when the jog dial  17  detects the completion of the rotational operation, the cellular phone  1  negates the input of the instruction accepted by the touch sensors  18  by discarding the detection of the input (the occurrence of the event) With this arrangement, the cellular phone  1  may be able to prevent the occurrence of the false triggering of the touch sensors  18  due to unintentional touches to the touch sensors  18 . Details of another input process at a time of operating a jog dial will be described below. 
       FIG. 5  shows a flowchart explaining another input process at a time of operating a jog dial, executed by the control unit  41  of the cellular phone  1  in accordance with the present embodiment. The another input process at a time of operating a jog dial is initiated after the cellular phone  1  accepts an instruction of turning on the power source by a predetermined input operation or when the operation lock of the first operation section  15  or the second operation section  21  is released, whereby the execution of the input process is initiated. 
     The processes in a jog-dial turned-on step S 21  to an event-occurrence determination step S 24  are generally similar to those of the jog-dial turned-on step S 1  to the event-occurrence determination step S 4  in the input process at a time of operating the jog dial in  FIG. 4 , and therefore the explanation thereof is omitted herein. 
     When the control unit  41  detects the occurrence of the initiation event of the rotational operation of the jog dial  17  in the event-occurrence determination step S 24 , it sets a jog dial operation flag ON in step S 25 . Further, in step S 26 , the control unit  41  sets the touch flag OFF. Incidentally, when the touch flag is set OFF, the control unit  41  maintains the off state as it is in step S 26 . The control unit  41  returns to an input-process completion-determination step S 32 , and repeats the subsequent processes. 
     Next, when the control unit  41  detects the completion event of the rotational operation of the jog dial  17  in the event-occurrence determination step S 24 , it sets the jog dial operation flag OFF in step S 27 . The control unit  41  then returns to the input-process completion-determination step S 23  and repeats the subsequent processes. 
     On the other hand, when the control unit  41  detects a touch to the touch sensors  18  in the event-occurrence determination step S 24 , it determines whether a jog dial operation flag is set ON in step S 28 . When the control unit  41  determines that the jog dial operation flag is set OFF, it sets the touch flag ON in step S 29 . The control unit  41  then returns to the input-process completion-determination step S 23  and repeats the subsequent processes. 
     On the other hand, when the control unit  41  determines that the jog dial operation flag is set ON, it discards the touch event in step S 30  because the touches to the touch sensors  18  occur during the rotational operation of the jog dial  17 , and therefore the touch event occurred may be recognized as unintentional touches. 
     Further, when the control unit  41  detects the occurrence of the release event of the touch sensors  18  in the event-occurrence determination step S 24 , it determines whether the jog dial operation flag is set ON in step S 31  When the control unit  41  determines that the jog dial operation flag is set ON, it discards the release event in step S 30  because the release of the touch sensors  18  occurs during the rotational operation of the jog dial  17 , and therefore the release may be recognized as the one corresponding to unintentional touches. 
     On the other hand, when the control unit  41  determines that the jog dial operation flag is set OFF, it determines whether the touch flag is set ON in step S 32 . When the control unit  41  determines that the touch flag is set OFF, it discards the release event in step S 30 , because the corresponding touch event does not occur. 
     The case where a release is still detected even when the touch flag is set OFF includes the case where the touch sensors  18  are touched before initiation of the rotational operation of the jog dial  17  or during the rotational operation of the jog dial  17  while the touches to the touch sensors  18  are maintained (touch flag is set OFF), and then the touch sensors  18  are released after the rotational operation of the jog dial  17  is completed. 
     When the control unit  41  determines that the touch flag is set ON in step S 32 , it sets the touch flag OFF in step S 33 . Further, in step S 34 , the control unit  41  executes a predetermined process in accordance with the detection of the release of the touch sensors  18 . That is, the control unit  41  executes a predetermined process on the basis of the input of the instruction accepted by the touch sensors  18 . The control unit  41  then returns to the input-process completion-determination step S 23  and repeats the subsequent processes. 
     In the another input process at a time of operating the jog dial, the touch and release events of the touch sensors  18  occurred during the time from the initiation to the completion of the rotational operation of the jog dial  17 , are discarded. Accordingly, a predetermined process in accordance with the detection of the release of the touch sensors  18  is not executed, whereby it is possible to suitably prevent the occurrence of the false triggering of the touch sensors accompanying the rotational operation of the jog dial  17 . 
     Further, in the cases where the events occur in an order of: (1) touch event of the touch sensors  18 ; (2) rotational operation initiation event of the jog dial  17 ; (3) release event of the touch sensors  18 ; and (4) rotational operation completion event of the jog dial  17 , and an order of: (1) touch event of the touch sensors  18 ; (2) rotational operation initiation event of the jog dial  17 ; (3) rotational operation completion event of the jog dial  17 ; and (4) release event of the touch sensors  18 , the control unit  41  sets the touch flag OFF in a flag OFF step S 26  after the occurrence of (2) rotational operation initiation event of the jog dial  17 . That is, the control unit  41  discards the detection of the touch event upon the initiation of the rotational operation of the jog dial  17 . Thus, even when unintentional touches to the touch sensors  18  occur before the rotational operation of the jog dial  17 , it is determined that the touch flag is set OFF in the flag ON determination step S 32  after the occurrence of (4) release event of the touch sensors  18 , and the detection of the release is discarded, which prevents the occurrence of the false triggering of the touch sensors. 
     According to the cellular phone  1 , the touch sensors  18  are kept in a power-off state or the input of the instruction accompanying the touch or release event of the touch sensors  18  that is detected is negated from the time when the jog dial  17  detects the initiation of the rotational operation to the time when the jog dial  17  detects the completion of the rotational operation, whereby the false triggering of the touch sensors  18  caused by unintentional touches to the touch sensors  18  may be suitably prevented. 
     Incidentally, although an example in which a disk-type jog dial is applied to the cellular phone  1  as a movable-type input unit is described according to the present embodiment, the other movable-type input units which may require a certain size of movable area for the finger of the user, which operates the movable input units, may also be applied to the present invention. The movable-type input units that are applicable to the present invention include: rotative-type input units such as a side jog which is disposed on the side surface of the lower housing  12  or the upper housing  13 , the part of which being protruded from the side surface and being operable by rotation and a center jog with a cylindrical-shaped dial which is disposed on the upper housing  13  in a laid-down manner, the part of which being protruded from the main surface of the upper housing  13  and being rotatable about an axis parallel to the main surface; and slide-type input units such as a slide switch that switches on and off by sliding on a flat surface and a pointing device. 
     Further, the layout of the movable-type input unit such as the jog dial  17  and the touch-type input unit such as the touch sensors  18  are not limited to that disclosed in  FIG. 1 . Yet further, the locations at which the jog dial  17  and the touch sensors  18  are disposed are not limited to the same surface of the same housing, but the jog dial  17  and the touch sensors  18  may be disposed in different surfaces. For example, the jog dial  17  may be disposed on the main surface of the upper housing  13 , whereas the touch sensors  18  may be disposed on the side surface. 
     Further, although an application to the slide-type cellular phone  1  in which the upper housing  13  slides relative to the lower housing  12  so as to be superposed on the lower housing  12  has been described, the cellular phone  1  may include the following types: a so-called folding-type in which upper housing and lower housing are hinged together; a swivel-type in which housings are rotatable about an rotation axis perpendicular to the rotation axis of a hinge; a reversible-type in which housings are capable of 360-degree rotation about a rotation axis of a hinge; and a so-called straight-type in which a single housing is used. 
     Second Embodiment  
     The second embodiment of the mobile terminal according to the present invention will be described hereunder with reference to the appended drawings. The mobile terminal in this second embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in that it includes an arrow key and an enter key instead of a jog dial. Incidentally, configurations and elements corresponding to those of the first embodiment are added with the same reference numerals, and the descriptions thereof are omitted. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show external configurations of a slide-type cellular phone  100 , which is an example of mobile terminals according to the present invention.  FIG. 6A  shows an external configuration of the cellular phone  100  viewed from a front side thereof when it is extended so that a second operation section  21  is exposed (open state).  FIG. 6B  shows an external configuration of the cellular phone  100  viewed from the front side thereof, when it is contracted so that the main surface of a lower housing  12  and the back face of an upper housing  13  are folded together (close state). 
     In the cellular phone  100  as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the display  14  on the main surface of the upper housing  13  is normally exposed. In order that the cellular phone  100  shifts from the close state in which the upper housing  13  is superposed on the lower housing  12  as shown in  FIG. 6B  to the open state as shown in  FIG. 6A , the upper housing  13  is caused to slide in a direction of an arrow X relative to the lower housing  12 , whereby the second operation section  21  on the lower housing  12  appears. This open state and the close state respectively correspond to a “first state” and a “second state” or vice versa. 
     On the main surface of the upper housing  13 , the display  14  is provided. In an area below the display  14 , there is provided a first operation section  115  that performs restricted operations. The first operation section  115  is provided with input units including an arrow key  116  having a four directions of up, down, left, and right key (four-direction key), an enter key  117 , and touch sensors  18 . 
     The arrow key  116  is operated in the up, down, left, and right directions, thereby being able to move a cursor, etc. displayed on the display  14  in the up, down, left, and right directions. Further, the enter key  117  accepts confirmation instructions of a variety of processes. A predetermined number (e.g., four) of touch sensors  18  are disposed around the arrow key  116 . The touch sensors  18  function as a touch-type input unit which accepts an input of a first instruction by detecting a touch to each touch faces. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6A , on the main surface of the lower housing  12 , the second operation section  21  with which input operations are performed by, for example, depressing the same, is disposed. Incidentally, a variety of input units of the first operation section  115  and the second operation section  21  are mere an example, and keys to which other functions are allocated may further be provided to the each operation section. 
     The cellular phone  100  is provided with magnetic sensors  124   a,    124   b,    124   c,  and  124   d  (magnetic sensors  124 ) which detect whether the housings  12  and  13  are in the open state or in the close state. The magnetic sensors  124   a  and  124   b  are disposed in the predetermined positions on the upper housing  13 . The magnetic sensors  124   c  and  124   d  are disposed in the predetermined positions on the lower housing  12 . The magnetic sensors  124  serve as a detecting unit for detecting the shift movement performed between the open state and the close state of the housings  12  and  13 . 
       FIG. 7  shows an internal configuration of the cellular phone  100  according to the present embodiment. 
     Incidentally, configurations and elements corresponding to those of the first embodiment are added with the same reference numerals, and the descriptions thereof are omitted. 
     The control unit  141  includes a CPU, ROM, and RAM. The CPU executes a variety of processes in accordance with a variety of application programs loaded in the RAM from programs stored in the ROM or a memory section  42 , while generating various kinds of control signals, and then supplying the control signals to each section of the cellular phone  100 , thereby performing an overall control on the cellular phone  100 . The RAM appropriately stores data, etc. required for executing a variety of processes by the CPU. The control unit  141  serves as a control unit in this embodiment. 
       FIGS. 8A ,  8 B, and  8 C are diagrams explaining a shift movement of the cellular phone  100  from the close state to the open state according to the present embodiment. Incidentally, the explanation of a shift movement of the cellular phone  100  from the open state to the close state is omitted since it is an operation performed reversely to the shift movement from the close state to the open state shown in  FIGS. 8A ,  8 B, and  8 C. 
     When the lower housing  12  and the upper housing  13  are caused to slide relative to each other to thereby shift from the close state to the open state, it is highly likely that a user presses his/her finger against somewhere on the upper housing  13  (in the figure, an area at which touch sensors  18  are disposed) as shown in  FIG. 8A . Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 8B , a user causes the upper housing  13  to slide in the direction of an arrow X, to thereby change the state of the cellular phone  100  to the open state shown in  FIG. 8C . When doing this, it is highly likely that the finger of the user that causes the upper housing  13  to slide touches to the touch sensors  18 . 
     The cellular phone  100  according to the present embodiment is configured to suitably prevent the occurrence of the false triggering of the touch sensors caused by unintentional touches to the touch sensors  18  by a user, during a shift movement between the open state and the close state of the housings  12  and  13 . 
     In the input process at a time of performing the shift movement of the housings that will be described below, the cellular phone  100  keeps the power source of the touch sensors  18  in an off state from the time when the cellular phone  100  detects the initiation of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13  to the time when the cellular phone  100  detects the completion of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13 , thereby preventing the occurrence of the false triggering caused by unintentional touches to the touch sensors  18 . 
     Here, the cellular phone  100  detects, by using the magnetic sensors  124   c  and  124   d  of the lower housing  12  as shown in  FIG. 6 , the detection levels of the magnetic sensors  124   a  and  124   b  that are provided in the upper housing  13 , to thereby detect the initiation and the completion of the shift movement, as well as the current status of the housings  12  and  13  (open state and close state). 
     When the shift movement from the close state to the open state according to the present embodiment is initiated, the detection signals from the magnetic sensor  124   a  detected by the magnetic sensor  124   d  shift below a predetermined level. On the other hand, when the shift movement from the close state to the open state is completed, the detection signals from the magnetic sensor  124   b  detected by the magnetic sensor  124   c  shift above the predetermined level. When the shift movement from the open state to the close state is initiated, the detection signals from the magnetic sensor  124   b  detected by the magnetic sensor  124   c  shift below the predetermined level. On the other hand, when the shift movement from the open state to the close state is completed, the detection signals from the magnetic sensor  124   a  detected by the magnetic sensor  124   d  shift above the predetermined level. Incidentally, the layout of the magnetic sensors  124   a  to  124   d  is not limited to the above. Likewise, the number of the magnetic sensors is not limited to the above. In addition, it may be possible to determine whether the magnetic sensors are in the state of  FIG. 8A  or that of  FIG. 8C , in consideration of the mechanism. 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart explaining an input process at a time of performing the shift movement of the housings, executed by the control unit  141  of the cellular phone  100 , according to the present embodiment. The input process at a time of performing the shift movement of the housings may be performed, when an execution of the input process is initiated after the cellular phone  100  accepts an instruction of turning on the power source by a predetermined input operation, or when each operation lock of the first operation section  115  and the second operation section  21  is released (this may be applied to the case of releasing the lock of the operation section in part or the case of releasing the lock of the touch sensors  18 . The same can be said below). Further, as to the operation of the touch sensors  18 , merely touching the touch sensors  18  is not recognized as an input, but when the touch sensors  18  is touched for longer than a predetermined period of time (“long press”) or when the touch sensors  18  detect the completion of the touch before the predetermined period of time lapses (“short press”), the touch sensors  18  then become operable. 
     In step S 101 , the control unit  141  turns the power source of the touch sensors  18  ON. The touch sensors  18  detect the initiation of the touch (hereinafter referred to as “touch”) and the completion of the touch (hereinafter referred to as “release”), whereby it becomes in a state where it can accept an input operation. 
     In step S 102 , the control unit  141  determines whether the input process is completed or not. The input process is completed when the cellular phone  100  has accepted an instruction of turning off the power source by a predetermined input operation, or when the operation lock of the first operation section  115  or the second operation section  21  has been set. When the control unit  141  determines that the input process is completed, it ends the input process at a time of performing the shift movement of the housings. 
     On the other hand, when the control unit  141  determines that the input process has not been completed, it determines whether the occurrence of the predetermined events is detected in step S 103 . The predetermined events includes the initiation and completion events of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13  and the touch and release events of the touch sensors  18 . Incidentally, in this embodiment, the explanation as to the case where the other event processes (e.g., pressing of the operation keys  122  and an incoming call) occur is omitted. When the control unit  141  determines that the predetermined events are not detected, it returns to the input-process completion-determination step S 102 . 
     When the control unit  141  detects the occurrence of the initiation event of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13  in the event-occurrence determination-step S 103 , it sets a housing movement flag ON in step S 104 . In step S 105 , the control unit  141  turns the touch sensors  18  OFF, thereby causing the touch sensors  18  to be in an off state in which no input to the touch sensors  18  is accepted. Here, since the touch sensors  18  are kept in an off state, the control unit  141  does not detect the touch and release of the touch sensors  18 . With this arrangement, the cellular phone  100  does not cause false triggering of the processes allocated to the touch sensors  18 , even when unintentional touches to the touch sensors  18  occur during the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13 . 
     In step S 106 , the control unit  141  sets the touch flag OFF. This touch flag is normally set ON in a flag ON step S 109  after the touch event of the touch sensors  18  is detected in the event-occurrence determination-step S 103 . The control unit  141  sets this touch flag OFF in accordance with the initiation of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13 , thereby discarding the touch event of the touch sensors  1  that has already occurred and been detected. Incidentally, when the touch flag has already been set OFF, the control unit  141  maintains the off state as it is in step S 106 . The control unit  141  returns to the input-process completion-determination step S 102 , and repeats the subsequent processes. 
     Next, when the control unit  141  detects the completion event of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13  in the event-occurrence determination step S 103 , it sets the housing movement flag OFF in step S 107 . In step S 108 , the control unit  141  turns the touch sensors  18  ON, thereby causing the touch sensors  18  to be in an on state in which the input to the touch sensors  18  is accepted. In this process, the touch sensors  18 , which have been in an off state in the touch sensor OFF step S 105  in accordance with the detection of the initiation of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13 , are recovered so as to be in an on state in which an input operation can be accepted. The control unit  141  then returns to the input-process completion-determination step S 102  and repeats the subsequent processes. 
     On the other hand, when the control unit  141  detects the touch event of the touch sensors  18  in the event-occurrence determination step S 103 , it sets the touch flag ON in step S 109 . The control unit  141  then returns to the input-process completion-determination step S 102 , and repeats the subsequent processes. 
     Further, when the control unit  141  detects the occurrence of the release event of the touch sensors  18  in the event-occurrence determination step S 103 , it determines whether the touch flag is set ON in step S 110 . When the control unit  141  determines that the touch flag is set OFF, it discards the release event in step S 111 , since the corresponding touch event does not occur. The case where the release is still detected even when the touch flag is set OFF includes the case where the touch sensors  18  are touched before initiation of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13  or during the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13  (touch sensors  18  are in an off state), and then the touch sensors  18  are released after the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13  is completed while the touches to the touch sensors  18  are maintained (touch sensors  18  are in an on state). 
     When the control unit  141  determines that the touch flag is set ON, it sets the touch flag OFF in step S 112 . In step  113 , the control unit  141  executes a predetermined process in accordance with the detection of the occurrence of the release event of the touch sensors  18 . That is, the control unit  141  executes a predetermined process in response to the input of the instruction accepted by the touch sensors  18 . 
     Incidentally, as described above, the control unit  141  is configured to execute the predetermined processes allocated to the touch sensors  18  upon detection of the release corresponding to the detected touch. The touch sensors  18  may accept different kinds of input operations depending on how long the touch sensors  18  are touched (duration of touch). The touch sensors  18  are not so limited to the above described operations, but the touch sensors  18  may also execute the predetermined processes upon detection of a touch. The control unit  141  returns to the input-process completion-determination step S 102  and then repeats the subsequent processes. 
     In the input process at a time of performing the shift movement of the housings, the touch sensors  18  are kept turned off from the time when the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13  is initiated to the time when it is completed. With this arrangement, the touch and release events of the touch sensors  18  do not occur from the time when the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13  is initiated to the time when it is completed, and thus it is possible to suitably prevent the false triggering of touch sensors  18  accompanying the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13 . 
     Further, in the case where the events occur in an order of: (1) touch event of the touch sensors  18 ; (2) shift-movement initiation event of the housings  12  and  13 ; (3) shift-movement completion event of the housings  12  and  13 ; and (4) release event of the touch sensors  18 , the touch flag is set OFF in the flag OFF step S 106  after the occurrence of (2) shift-movement initiation event of the housings  12  and  13 . Thus, even when unintentional touches to the touch sensors  18  occur before the Initiation of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13 , it is determined that the touch flag is set OFF in the flag ON determination step S 110  after the occurrence of (4) release event of the touch sensors  18 , and therefore the detection of the release is discarded, thereby preventing the occurrence of the false triggering of the touch sensors. 
     Further, since the touch sensors  18  are kept turned off during the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13 , it is possible to achieve the power saving. 
     Next, another input process at a time of performing the shift movement of the housings, executed by a cellular phone  100  according to the present embodiment will be described. 
     In another input process at a time of performing the shift movement of the housings as will be described below, in the case where a touch or release event of the touch sensors  18  occurs from the time when the cellular phone  100  detects the initiation of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13  to the time when the cellular phone  100  detects the completion of the shift movements the cellular phone  100  negates the instruction of which input is accepted by the touch sensors  18  by discarding the occurrence of the event. With this arrangement, the cellular phone  100  may prevent the occurrence of the false triggering of the touch sensors  18  due to unintentional touches to the touch sensors  18 . Details of another input process at a time of performing the shift movement of the housings will be described below. 
       FIG. 10  shows a flowchart explaining the another input process at a time of performing the shift movement of the housing, executed by the control unit  141  of the cellular phone  100  in accordance with the present embodiment. The another input process at a time of the shift movement is initiated after the cellular phone  100  accepts an instruction of turning on the power source by a predetermined input operation, or a time when the operation lock of the first operation section  115  or the second operation section  21  is released, whereby the execution of the input process is initiated. 
     The processes in a touch sensors turned-on step S 121  to an event-occurrence determination step S 123  are generally similar to those of the touch sensors turned-on step S 101  to the event-occurrence determination step S 103  in the input process at the time of the shift movement of the housing in  FIG. 9 , and therefore the explanation thereof is omitted herein. 
     When the control unit  141  detects the occurrence of the initiation event of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13  in the event-occurrence determination step S 123 , it sets the housing movement flag ON in step S 124 . Further, in step S 125 , the control unit  141  sets the touch flag OFF. The control unit  141  sets this touch flag OFF in accordance with the initiation of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13 , thereby discarding the touch event of the touch sensors  18  that has already occurred and been detected. Incidentally, when the touch flag is set OFF, the control unit  141  maintains the off state as it is in step S 125 . The control unit  141  returns to the input-process completion-determination step S 122 , and repeats the subsequent processes. 
     Next, when the control unit  141  detects the completion event of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13  in the event-occurrence determination step S 123 , it sets the housing movement flag OFF in step S 126 . The control unit  141  then returns to the input-process completion-determination step S 122  and repeats the subsequent processes. 
     On the other hand, when the control unit  141  detects a touch to the touch sensors  18  in the event-occurrence determination step S 123 , it determines whether the housing movement flag is set ON in step S 127 . When the control unit  141  determines that the housing movement flag is set OFF, it sets the touch flag ON in step S 128 . The control unit  141  then returns to the input-process completion-determination step S 122  and repeats the subsequent processes. 
     On the other hand, when the control unit  141  determines that the housing moving flag is set ON, it discards the touch event in step S 129  because the touches to the touch sensors  18  occur during the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13 , and therefore the touch event occurred may be recognized as unintentional touches. 
     Further, when the control unit  141  detects the occurrence of the release event of the touch sensors  18  in the event-occurrence determination step S 123 , it determines whether the housing movement flag is set ON in step S 130 . When the control unit  141  determines that the shift movement flag is set ON, it discards the release event in step S 129  because the release of the touch sensors  18  occurs during the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13 , and therefore the release may be recognized as the one corresponding to unintentional touches. 
     On the other hand, when the control unit  141  determines that the housing movement flag is set OFF, it determines whether the touch flag is set ON in step S 131 . When the control unit  141  determines that the touch flag is set OFF, it discards the release event in step S 129 , because the corresponding touch event does not occur. 
     The case where the release is still detected even when the touch flag is set OFF includes the case where the touch sensors  18  are touched before the initiation of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13  or during the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13  while the touches to the touch sensors  18  are maintained (touch flag is set OFF), and then the touch sensors  18  are released after the shift movement of the housing  12  and  13  has been completed. 
     When the control unit  141  determines that the touch flag is set ON in step S 131 , it sets the touch flag OFF in step S 132 . Further, in step S 133 , the control unit  141  executes the predetermined process in accordance with the detection of the release of the touch sensors  18  That is, the control unit  141  executes the predetermined process on the basis of the input of the instruction accepted by the touch sensors  18 . The control unit  141  then returns to the input-process completion-determination step S 122  and repeats the subsequent processes. 
     In the another input process at the time of performing the shift movement of the housing, the touch and release events of the touch sensors  18  occurred during the time from the initiation to the completion of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13 , are discarded. Accordingly, the predetermined process in accordance with the detection of the release of the touch sensors  18  is not executed, whereby it is possible to suitably prevent the occurrence of the false triggering of the touch sensors accompanying the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13 . 
     Further, in the cases where the events occur in an order of (1) touch event of the touch sensors  18 , (2) shift movement initiation event of the housings  12  and  13 ; (3) release event of the touch sensors  18 ; and (4) shift movement completion event of the housings  12  and  13 , and an order of: (1) touch event of the touch sensors  18 ; (2) shift movement initiation event of the housings  12  and  13 ; (3) shift movement completion event of the housings  12  and  13 ; and (4) release event of the touch sensors  18 , the control unit  141  sets the touch flag OFF in a flag OFF step S 125  after the occurrence of (2) shift movement initiation event of the housings  12  and  13 . That is, the control unit  141  discards the detection of the touch event upon the initiation of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13 . Thus, even when unintentional touches to the touch sensors  18  occur before the shift movement of the housing  12  and  13 , it is determined that the touch flag is set OFF in the flag ON determination step S 131  after the occurrence of (4) release event of the touch sensors  18 , and the detection of the release is discarded, which prevents the occurrence of the false triggering of the touch sensors. 
     According to the cellular phone  100 , the touch sensors  18  are kept in a power-off state or the input of the instruction accompanying the touch or release event of the touch sensors  18  that is detected is negated from the time when the cellular phone  100  detects the initiation of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13  to the time when the cellular phone  100  detects the completion of the shift movement of the housings  12  and  13 , whereby the false triggering of the touch sensors  18  caused by unintentional touches to the touch sensors  18  may be suitably prevented. 
     Incidentally, in the cellular phone  100  according to the present embodiment, an example in which a slide-type housing is adopted as a housing capable of the shift movement between the first state and the second state, has been described. However, the cellular phones that include the other housings which may be configured to have different opening/closing structures may also be applied to the present invention. Such housings applicable to the present invention include: a so-called folding-type in which upper housing and lower housing are hinged together; a swivel-type in which housings are rotatable about a rotation axis perpendicular to a rotation axis of a hinge; and a reversible-type in which housings are capable of 360-degree rotation about a rotation axis of a hinge. 
     Additionally, the layout of the touch-type input unit such as a touch sensors  18  is not limited to the layout shown in  FIG. 6 , but the touch sensors  18  may be disposed within a movable range in which the finger of the user, which performs the shift movement of the housings, may come into contact with the touch sensors. Further, the layout of the touch sensors  18  is not limited to the main surface of the upper housing  13 , but the touch sensors  18  may be disposed on the lower housing  12 , or the each side surface of the housings  12  and  13  Further, although it has been described that the magnetic sensors  124  are adopted as a detecting unit for detecting the initiation and the completion of the shift movement of the housings, the magnetic sensors may be replaced with other unit or like such as optical sensors. 
     The present invention is applicable to a PDA, a personal computer, a portable game machine, a portable music player, a portable video player, and other such portable terminal in addition to the cell phone. 
     A series of processing described in each embodiment of the present invention can be executed using hardware as well as software. 
     Further, although each embodiment describes an example of the processes executed on the time series in the order of description, the processes include processes executed in parallel or separately, not executed on the time series.