Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The present invention relates to display control apparatus and programs for displaying character information on a display area. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    In the past, there have been demands to enhance the visibility of displays of electronic display devices. As techniques therefore, for example, Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application TOKKAIHEI 9-54322 discloses an electronic wristwatch which improves the visibility of character information displayed on its small display. This wristwatch comprises a display front, an hour-display character film, a first EL element, a liquid crystal display element, a second EL element, and a reflector arranged in this order. In this wristwatch, the first and second EL elements emit light which illumine the hour-display character film and liquid crystal display such that their displayed contents, respectively, are visible easily. 
         [0003]    Another electronic wristwatch is known which includes an inclination switch which turns off a power source for a display thereof when the wristwatch is placed in a non-inclined state or kept in a certain inclined state and turns on the power source when a change in the inclination of the wristwatch is sensed, thereby operating the display, for power saving purposes. 
         [0004]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a display control apparatus and program which display character information on a display unit in an enlarged size when it is sensed that the display unit is inclined at a predetermined angle to a predetermined reference, in order to improve the visibility of the displayed character information. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In order to achieve the above object, in one aspect the present invention provides a display control apparatus which comprises a display unit comprising a normal display section with at least one side and a normal non-display section provided outside the normal display section along the one side. An inclination sensor senses that the display unit is inclined at a predetermined angle to a predetermined reference. A display size control unit displays the character information in a normal size on the normal display section of the display unit when the inclination sensor fails to sense that the display unit is inclined at the predetermined angle to the predetermined reference, and displays the character information in an enlarged size on a whole of the normal display and non-display sections of the display unit when the inclination sensor senses that the display unit is inclined at the predetermined angle to the predetermined reference. 
         [0006]    Therefore, according to this display control apparatus, when it is sensed that the display unit is inclined at the predetermined angle to the predetermined reference, the character information is displayed in the enlarged size and the visibility of the displayed character information is enhanced when the display unit is looked at from outside. 
         [0007]    In order to achieve the above object, in a second aspect the present invention also provides a display control apparatus comprising a display unit that in turn comprises a normal display section with at least one side and a normal non-display section provided outside the normal display section along the at least one side. An inclination sensor senses that the display unit is inclined at a predetermined angle to a predetermined reference. A display controller selects one of a normal display mode in which character information is displayed in a normal size on the normal display section of the display unit and an enlarged display mode in which the character information is displayed in an enlarged size on a whole of both the normal display and non-display sections of the display unit. The display control unit selects and maintains the enlarged display mode for a predetermined time, in response to sensing that the display unit is inclined at the predetermined angle to the predetermined reference in the normal display mode. 
         [0008]    Therefore, according to this display control apparatus, when it is sensed that the display unit is inclined at the predetermined angle to the predetermined reference in the normal display mode, the character information is displayed in the enlarged size as in the first aspect for the predetermined time and the visibility of the displayed character information is furthermore enhanced when the displayed character information is looked at from outside. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below serve to explain the principles of the present invention in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an electronic wristwatch that includes a built-in display control apparatus according to the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the electronic wristwatch that includes the display control apparatus; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates time information displayed on a display unit in a normal display mode by the display control apparatus according to the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates time information displayed on the display unit in an enlarged display mode by the display control apparatus according to the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic of a RAM whose data is rewriteable by the display control apparatus; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart indicative of switching of time information display in the normal display mode to that in the enlarged display mode by the display control apparatus in response to sensing of a horizontal state of the display unit of the display control apparatus; and 
           [0016]      FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, and  7 C illustrate a transition of time information displays which will be switched by the display control apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a display control apparatus and program according to one embodiment of the present invention is built in an electronic wristwatch of  FIG. 1 . The wristwatch is adapted to be worn on a user&#39;s wrist by a wristband  2 A attached at opposite ends to a case  1  of the wristwatch through corresponding attaching members  2 . A plurality of push button switches  3  are provided on sides of the case  1  to set time, adjust a display brightness, etc. 
         [0018]    The wristwatch has at the front of the case  1  a display unit  22  ( FIG. 2 ) which is composed of a time display section  4   a , a setting display section  4   b  and a “current date/day of the week/seconds” display section  4   c . The time display section  4   a  is composed of a dot matrix type liquid crystal display mechanism, which will be driven to display “hours” and “minutes” time information indicated, for example, with numerals/alphabets, by selectively activating associated ones of square display dot areas arranged in rows and columns composing a display matrix. The setting display section  4   b  displays icons indicative of a current set (on or off) state of an alarm. The “current date/day of the week/seconds” display section  4   c  displays a current date, a current day of the week and current seconds of time in numerals or alphabetic letters of 7 segments which will be selectively activated or deactivated. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , in addition to the display unit  22  the wristwatch further comprises a display controller  21  including a computer or CPU  21  and a ROM  24  that has stored a display control program to cause the CPU  21  to perform its various functions, including display of current time information on the display section  4   a  based on clock pulse signals from a crystal oscillator (not shown). 
         [0020]    The display controller  21  displays numerical time information in a switching manner, as shown in  FIGS. 7A-7C . When the display controller  21  senses that the wristwatch is inclined at a predetermined angle to a horizontal surface during display of the time information in a normal size on the time display section  4   a , as shown in  FIG. 7A , the display controller  21  displays the time information in an enlarged size on the display section  4   a  for a predetermined time, for example, of 2 seconds in this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 7B . Thereafter, the size of the displayed time information is returned to its normal size, as shown in  FIG. 7C . Display modes involving  FIGS. 7A and 7C  where the time information is displayed in the normal size are hereinafter referred to as a “normal display mode” while the display mode involving  FIG. 7B  where the information is shown in an enlarged size is hereinafter referred to as an “enlarged display mode”. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the time display section  4   a  includes a matrix of small square display dot areas  13  arranged in 7 rows (Y 0 -Y 6 )×19 columns (X 0 -X 18 ) where dot areas forming displayed numerals are activated so as to be displayed emphatically in a different manner from the other dot areas. The areas of the rows Y 1 -Y 5  compose a normal display subsection  11  which displays time information in the normal display mode. The areas of the rows Y 6  and Y 0  compose the uppermost and lowermost normal non-display subsections  12 A and  12 B, respectively, which are not used in the normal display mode. 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , in the enlarged display mode, data on respective activated/deactivated dot areas  13  in the dot areas of the uppermost and lowermost rows Y 5  and Y 1  of the normal display subsection  11  are copied into as incremental dot data  14  in corresponding dot areas of the uppermost and lowermost normal non-display subsections  12 A and  12 B, respectively, as shown in  FIG. 4  for enlarged display of the time information. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the electronic wristwatch, the ROM  24 , the display unit  22 , a working RAM  23 , an inclination sensor or switch  25 , a key-in unit  26  and a timekeeping unit  27  are connected to the display controller or CPU  21 . 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the RAM  23  has storage areas arranged in 16 rows×16 columns including those corresponding to the dot areas of the display matrix of the display unit  22  and time information to be displayed on the time display section  4   a . The time information may include attribute values each, for example, indicative of white or black dot display data. The RAM  23  is managed in a hexadecimal system. 
         [0025]    The RAM  23  has storage rows  31  and  32  which store display data for the uppermost and lowermost rows Y 5  and Y 1 , respectively, of the normal display subsection  11 . In  FIG. 5 , note that the storage areas corresponding to rows Y 4 -Y 2  of the normal display subsection  11  are not shown. The RAM  23  further has storage areas  33  and  34  which store display data for rows Y 6  and Y 0  composing the normal non-display subsections  12 A and  12 B, respectively. 
         [0026]    As described above, the ROM  24  has stored the display control program in accordance with which the CPU  21  (or computer) switches the display mode between the normal display mode and the enlarged display mode, thereby performing a corresponding display operation. 
         [0027]    When the display unit  22  or its display section  4   a  is inclined at a predetermined angle from a horizontal surface, the inclination sensor  25  will sense this state and delivers a corresponding signal to the CPU  21 . 
         [0028]    The key-in unit  26  senses operation of any one of the push button switches  3  and delivers a corresponding signal to the CPU  21 , thereby causing the CPU  21  to change various settings and sets time. 
         [0029]    The timekeeping unit  27  includes a crystal oscillator (not shown) which provides timekeeping signals cyclically to the CPU  21 . Based on these signals, the CPU  21  updates time information displayed on the time display section  4   a  and “seconds of time” information displayed on the date/second display section  4   c.    
         [0030]    The CPU  21  updates the display data stored in the ROM  24  and hence the time information displayed on the time display section  4   a  in accordance with the display control program stored in the ROM  24 . The CPU  21  selects the enlarged display mode for the time display section  4   a  based on the signal from the inclination sensor  25  for enhancing the visibility of the time information. 
         [0031]    The CPU  21  comprises a counter  21   a  which starts to count up the number of clock pulses from the timekeeping unit  27  when the enlarged display mode is selected. When the counter  21   a  indicates a predetermined count, the CPU  21  returns the display mode from the enlarged display mode to the normal display mode. 
         [0032]    Now, operation of the electronic wristwatch will be described with reference to a flowchart of  FIG. 6  to be performed by executing the display control program stored in the ROM  24 . 
         [0033]    When failing to sense that the display unit  22  is inclined at the predetermined angle, the CPU  21  displays time information in the normal display subsection  11  in the normal display mode, as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 3 . In this case, the CPU  21  recognizes a current time based on timekeeping signals from the timekeeping unit  27  in step S 1 , and updates display data stored in the storage areas, including the storage areas  31  and  32 , of the RAM  23  corresponding to the normal display subsection  11  in step S 2 . 
         [0034]    During display of time information in the normal display subsection  11  in the normal display mode, the CPU  21  determines at predetermined intervals of time whether the electronic wristwatch is inclined at the predetermined angle based on sensing signals coming from the inclination sensor  25  which, produced once, will be detected necessarily by the CPU  21 . When the sensor  25  senses that the electronic wristwatch is inclined at the predetermined angle and delivers a corresponding signal to the CPU  21 , the CPU  21  then responds to this signal and then goes to step S 4 . 
         [0035]    In step S 4 , the CPU  21  sets 2 seconds as the predetermined duration time for which the time information is displayed in the enlarged display mode, which causes the counter  21   a  to count up the number of clock pulse signals. 
         [0036]    In step S 5 , in order to change the display mode from the normal display mode to the enlarged display mode, the CPU  21  updates the display data in the RAM  23 . That is, the CPU  21  copies the display data stored in the storage areas  31  and  32  of the RAM  23  corresponding to the uppermost and lowermost normal display row areas of the normal display subsection  11  into the corresponding storage areas  33  and  34 , respectively, of the RAM  23   
         [0037]    In step S 6 , the CPU  21  reads the display data copied into the display storage areas  33  and  34  in step S 5  and the display data stored in the storage areas corresponding to the normal display subsection  11  and then outputs them to the time display section  4   a . This switches the display of the display unit  22  from the normal display mode where only the normal display subsection  11  of  FIGS. 7A and 3  displays time information to the enlarged display mode where a whole of the normal display subsection  11  and the normal non-display subsections  12 A and  12 B displays time information, as shown in  FIGS. 7B and 4 . 
         [0038]    In step S 7 , the CPU  21  determines whether the counter  21   a  has counted up the number of clock pulses corresponding to 2 seconds since the start of the counting thereof. If not, display of the time information in the enlarged display mode continues. When the count of the counter has reached the one corresponding to 2 seconds, the CPU  21  then goes to step S 8 . 
         [0039]    In step S 8 , the CPU  21  clears the display data stored both in the display storage areas  33  and  34 . Then, the CPU  21  reads display data from the storage areas of the RAM  23  corresponding to the normal display subsection  11  that includes the storage areas  31  and  32 , and then displays the data on the display unit  22 . Thus, the display form of the display unit  22  is changed from that of  FIGS. 7B and 4  in the enlarged display mode to that of  FIGS. 7C and 3  in the normal display mode. 
         [0040]    As described above, according to the inventive display control apparatus, the display mode is switched between the normal display mode in which the time information is displayed in the normal display subsection  11  and the enlarged display mode in which the time information is displayed in the enlarged size on the whole of the normal display subsection  11  and the normal non-display subsections  12 A and  12 B provided at the opposite sides of the normal display subsection  11 . Switching of the display mode from the normal display mode to the enlarged display mode occurs when the time display section  4   a  is inclined at the predetermined angle to the horizontal surface, for example, by the user bending his or her wrist, on which the wristwatch is worn, before his or her breast to look at the time display well. At this time, the inclination sensor  25  senses that state of the time display section  4   a  and outputs a sensing signal. The CPU  21  responds to this signal to cause the time display section  4   a  to enlarge and display the time information in the enlarged display mode for the predetermined time, for example, of 2 seconds. That is, according to this wristwatch, when the user behaves so as to look at his or her wristwatch or takes bodily exercise, the display unit of the wristwatch can be inclined at the predetermined angle, thereby enhancing the visibility of the time display section  4   a.    
         [0041]    Enlargement of the displayed time information due to sensing of the predetermined inclination state of the display unit should be preferably performed only while the current time information is displayed on the time display section  4   a  excluding while information on any of the various settings being made is being displayed after confirmation of the current operation mode. 
         [0042]    When sensing the predetermined inclination state of the display unit in the normal display mode, the CPU  21  is only required to copy the display data stored in the storage areas corresponding to the uppermost and lowermost rows of the normal display subsection  11  into the storage areas of the RAM corresponding to the normal non-display subsections  12 A and  12 B of the time display section  4   a , thereby displaying the time information in the enlarged size in the display section comprising a whole of the normal display subsection  11  and the normal non-display subsections  12 A and  12 B. In this case, enlarged display of the time information is performed without the necessity of storing enlarged display fonts beforehand in addition to the normal display fonts. In addition, the information to be displayed may include alphabetical letters. 
         [0043]    Further, according to this wristwatch, the user is able to enjoy enlarged display of time information on the display section  4   a  occurring when the predetermined inclined state of the display section  4   a  is sensed. 
         [0044]    While in the above embodiment the electronic wristwatch to which the display control apparatus and program according to the present invention has been applied has been illustrated, the present invention is widely applicable to displays of other electronic devices such as, for example, electronic notebooks and/or mobile phones. 
         [0045]    Various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broad spirit and scope of this invention. The above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the present invention, not to limit the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is shown by the attached claims rather than the embodiments. Various modifications made within the meaning of an equivalent of the claims of the invention and within the claims are to be regarded to be in the scope of the present, invention. 
         [0046]    This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-067424 filed on Mar. 15, 2007 and including specification, claims, drawings and summary. The disclosure of the above Japanese patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technology Category: 3