Notebook computer, method for control, and program

Abstract

To easily use a screen rotation function.SOLUTION: A notebook computer 10 has a first housing 10a, a second housing 10b, a processing unit 14, and a connection unit 15. The first housing 10 has a display 11. The second housing 10b has a keyboard 13. The connection unit 15 connects the first housing 10a and the second housing 10b to each other and has a rotary shaft which makes the first housing 10a rotate. The processing unit 14 acquires a first angle as the angle of rotation of the first housing 10a around the rotary axis of the connection unit 15 when an input to the keyboard 13 is valid. The processing unit 14 rotates the screen displayed in the display unit 11 on the basis of the first angle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a notebook computer, a control method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Notebook computers equipped with a display and a keyboard are in use. Notebook computers are also referred to as notebook PCs (Personal Computers), laptop PCs, etc. There are so-called 2-in-1 type notebook computers that can be transformed into tablets. There are also notebook computers with a detachable keyboard.

[0003] Here, the screen on the display connected to the computer can be rotated according to the user's operation input. For example, there is a proposal for an information processing apparatus that displays a second display area in which additional information can be input, inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the first display area, within the first display area on the screen.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] If the user is forced to manually set the rotation of the screen, it may take time to rotate the screen when the user does not know the setting method or is not accustomed to the operation.

[0006] On one aspect, an object of the present invention is to enable easy use of the screen rotation function.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In one aspect, a notebook computer is provided. The notebook computer includes a first housing, a second housing, a connection part, and a processing part. The first housing includes a display. The second housing includes a keyboard. The connection part connects the first housing and the second housing and has a rotation axis for rotating the first housing. The processing part acquires a first angle, which is the angle of rotation of the first housing around the rotation axis, in a state where input to the keyboard is valid, and rotates the screen displayed on the display based on the first angle.

[0008] Also, in one aspect, a control method executed by a computer is provided. Also, in one aspect, a program executed by a computer is provided.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] In one aspect, the screen rotation function can be easily used.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] [First Embodiment] The first embodiment will be described.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a notebook computer according to the first embodiment.

[0014] The notebook computer 10 has a first housing 10a and a second housing 10b. The first housing 10a includes a display 11 and a sensor 12. The second housing 10b includes a keyboard 13. The notebook computer 10 further has a processing unit 14. The processing unit 14 may be included in the first housing 10a or may be included in the second housing 10b. Also, the notebook computer 10 has a connection part 15 that connects the first housing 10a and the second housing 10b. The connection part 15 is, for example, a hinge. The first housing 10a and the second housing 10b can be rotated around the rotation axis of the connection part 15 and can be folded or opened.

[0015] The display 11 is a display device that displays an image. The display 11 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (OEL: Organic Electro-Luminescence) display.

[0016] Sensor 12 detects, for example, the angle of inclination of display 11. Sensor 12 is, for example, an acceleration sensor. Sensor 12 sets the horizontal direction as 0° and detects the angle of inclination of display 11 with respect to the horizontal direction. More specifically, the rotation axis of connection part 15 is designated as α. A horizontal axis perpendicular to rotation axis α is designated as β. Also, the axis of display 11 perpendicular to rotation axis α is designated as γ. In this case, the angle of inclination of display 11 corresponds to the angle θ of rotation of axis γ around rotation axis α with respect to axis β.

[0017] In addition, in FIG. 1, the direction of observing notebook computer 10 is represented by axis x parallel to rotation axis α, horizontal axis y parallel to axis β, and vertical axis z.

[0018] Keyboard 13 is an input device that receives operation inputs from the user. In addition to keyboard 13, second housing 10b may be provided with a pointing device such as a touch pad. Also, a pointing device such as a mouse may be connected to notebook computer 10.

[0019] The processing unit 14 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or DSP (Digital Signal Processor). However, the processing unit 14 may include application-specific electronic circuits such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The processor executes a program stored in the storage unit. A collection of multiple processors may be referred to as a "multiprocessor" or simply a "processor". Although not shown in the figure, the notebook computer 10 has the above storage unit that stores data used for the processing of the processing unit 14. For the storage unit, a volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), or a non-volatile storage such as an SSD (Solid State Drive), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or flash memory is used.

[0020] Here, the notebook computer 10 is a so-called 2-in-1 type computer. That is, the notebook computer 10 can be used as a tablet when the back surface of the first housing 10a (the surface opposite to the display 11) and the back surface of the second housing 10b (the surface opposite to the keyboard 13) are combined. The state in which the notebook computer 10 is deformed into a tablet is called the tablet mode. For example, the processing unit 14 can acquire the relative angle between the first housing 10a and the second housing 10b and detect the tablet mode based on the relative angle. The processing unit 14 enables input to the keyboard 13 in cases other than the tablet mode. The processing unit 14 disables input to the keyboard 13 in the tablet mode.

[0021] In addition, the processing unit 14 controls the display of the screen on the display 11. Specifically, when the input to the keyboard 13 is valid, the processing unit 14 acquires the rotation angle θ of the first housing 10a around the rotation axis α (that is, the tilt angle θ), and rotates the screen displayed on the display 11 based on the angle θ. Here, the screen is an image displayed on the display 11.

[0022] For example, the sensor 12 continuously detects the angle θ, and notifies the processing unit 14 of the rotated angle θ in response to an event that the user rotates the first housing 10a relatively largely. The processing unit 14 determines whether to rotate the screen in response to the notification from the sensor 12.

[0023] The angle range R for rotating the screen with respect to the angle θ acquired by the processing unit 14 is determined in advance. For example, information indicating the angle range R is previously held in the storage unit of the notebook computer 10. The angle range R is determined, for example, around 180°. As an example, the angle range R is assumed to be about 160° to about 200°.

[0024] In FIG. 1, display examples of the screen in the case of θ = θ1 and the case of θ = θ2 are shown.

[0025] θ1 is an angle smaller than the minimum angle of the angle range R. In this case, the processing unit 14 does not rotate the screen. That is, the rotation angle of the screen is 0°. Note that when θ does not belong to the angle range R and the tablet mode is not enabled, the processing unit 14 can rotate the screen according to the user's setting.

[0026] θ2 is an angle belonging to the angle range R. For example, θ2 = 180°. In this case, the processing unit 14 automatically rotates the screen displayed on the display 11 by 180°. The rotation axis of the screen is an axis perpendicular to the screen passing through the center of the screen. As a result, the up, down, left, and right of the screen displayed on the display 11 are reversed compared to the case where there is no screen rotation.

[0027] Thus, according to the notebook computer 10, when the input to the keyboard 13 is in an effective state, the rotation angle θ of the first housing 10a around the rotation axis α in the connection part 15 is acquired, and based on the angle θ, the screen displayed on the display 11 is rotated.

[0028] Thereby, the notebook computer 10 can enable the user to easily use the screen rotation function. For example, the user places the notebook computer 10 on a table or the like, rotates the first housing 10a to about θ = 180°, and may explain the content of the screen of the display 11 to the other user facing himself / herself. In this case, for the other user facing, it is difficult to view the content of the screen because the orientation of the screen is reversed. Therefore, the notebook computer 10 can enable the user to easily use the screen rotation function without forcing the user to perform an operation for screen rotation by automatically rotating the screen displayed on the display 11 based on the rotation angle θ of the first housing 10a.

[0029] In the above description, the reference for the angle θ is the horizontal axis β (or the axis y). On the other hand, the axis β may be considered as an axis fixed to the second housing 10b that is perpendicular to the axis α. In that case, for example, the second housing 10b may include a sensor (for example, an acceleration sensor) that detects the angle φ between the axis β and the axis y fixed in the horizontal direction. Then, the processing unit 14 may rotate the screen displayed on the display 11 based on the angle θ (the first angle) and the angle φ (the second angle). In this case, the processing unit 14 may automatically rotate the screen displayed on the display 11 by 180° when, for example, the difference between the angle θ and the angle φ belongs to a predetermined angle range R.

[0030] [Second Embodiment] Next, the second embodiment will be described.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hardware example of the notebook PC according to the second embodiment.

[0032] The notebook PC 100 has a processor 101, a RAM 102, an SSD 103, a media reader 104, a communication interface 105, a GPU 106, sensors 107, 109, an input interface 108, an LCD 110, a keyboard 120, and a touch pad 130. The processor 101 corresponds to the processing unit 14 of the first embodiment.

[0033] The processor 101 is an arithmetic unit that executes program instructions. The processor 101 is, for example, a CPU. The processor 101 loads at least a part of the programs and data stored in the SSD 103 into the RAM 102 and executes the programs. Note that the processor 101 may include a plurality of processor cores. Also, the notebook PC 100 may have a plurality of processors. The processing described below may be executed in parallel using a plurality of processors or processor cores. Also, a set of a plurality of processors may be referred to as a "multiprocessor" or simply a "processor". Also, the processor may be referred to as a "processor circuitry".

[0034] The RAM 102 is a volatile semiconductor memory that temporarily stores programs executed by the processor 101 and data used by the processor 101 for calculations. Note that the notebook PC 100 may include other types of memory than RAM, and may include a plurality of memories.

[0035] The SSD 103 is a non-volatile storage device that stores software programs such as an OS (Operating System), middleware, and application software, as well as data. Note that the notebook PC 100 may include other types of storage devices such as an HDD, and may include a plurality of non-volatile storage devices.

[0036] The media reader 104 is a reading device that reads programs and data recorded on the recording medium 20. As the recording medium 20, for example, a semiconductor memory can be used. The recording medium 20 may also be a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk (MO), etc. The magnetic disk includes a flexible disk (FD) and an HDD. The optical disk includes a CD (Compact Disc) and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc).

[0037] The media reader 104, for example, copies programs and data read from the recording medium 20 to other recording media such as the RAM 102 and the SSD 103. The read program is executed by the processor 101, for example. Note that the recording medium 20 may be a portable recording medium and may be used for the distribution of programs and data. Also, the recording medium 20 and the SSD 103 are sometimes referred to as computer-readable recording media.

[0038] The communication interface 105 is connected to the network 30 and communicates with other information processing devices via the network 30. The communication interface 105 may be a wired communication interface connected to a wired communication device such as a switch or a router, or a wireless communication interface connected to a wireless communication device such as a base station or an access point.

[0039] The GPU 106 outputs an image to the LCD 110 according to an instruction from the processor 101. The LCD 110 is a display device that displays an image. The LCD 110 may be another type of display such as an OEL display.

[0040] The sensor 107 is an acceleration sensor provided in the first housing including the LCD 110, which detects the tilt angle of the first housing or the LCD 110.

[0041] The input interface 108 is connected to the keyboard 120 and the touch pad 130. The keyboard 120 and the touch pad 130 are input devices that receive the user's operation inputs. The input interface 108 acquires input signals from the keyboard 120 and the touch pad 130 and outputs them to the processor 101. The notebook PC 100 may be provided with a pointing device other than the touch pad 130, such as a touch panel or a trackball. Further, the input interface 108 may be connected to a mouse, a digitizer, etc., and may acquire input signals from a mouse, a digitizer, etc.

[0042] The sensor 109 is an acceleration sensor that is provided in the second housing including the keyboard 120 and detects the inclination angle of the second housing or the keyboard 120.

[0043] Note that each of the processor 101, the RAM 102, the SSD 103, the media reader 104, the communication interface 105, the GPU 106, and the input interface 108 may be provided in the first housing or may be provided in the second housing.

[0044] Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of use of the notebook PC.

[0045] The notebook PC 100 has a first housing 100a, a second housing 100b, and a hinge 140. The first housing 100a includes the sensor 107 and the LCD 110. The second housing 100b includes the sensor 109 and the keyboard 120. The hinge 140 is a connecting portion that connects the first housing 100a and the second housing 100b. The first housing 100a and the second housing 100b are rotatable around the rotation axis of the hinge 140. The inclination angle of the first housing 100a and the second housing 100b corresponds to the rotation angle around the rotation axis.

[0046] The first housing 100a and the second housing 100b may be detachable via the hinge 140. Further, the notebook PC 100 is a so-called 2-in-1 type computer and can also be used as a tablet. Furthermore, the notebook PC 100 may be provided with a detection mechanism other than the sensors 107 and 109 for detecting the rotation angles of the first housing 100a and the second housing 100b around the rotation axis of the hinge 140.

[0047] The user can place the notebook PC 100 on a table or the like and open the first housing 100a so that the screen of the LCD 110 of the notebook PC 100 and the key surface of the keyboard 120 are flat, thereby showing the screen displayed on the LCD 110 to the person facing it. Therefore, the notebook PC 100 detects such a usage state of the notebook PC 100 and provides a function of automatically rotating the screen displayed on the LCD 110 so that the other person can easily view it.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a functional example of the notebook PC.

[0049] The notebook PC 100 includes a storage unit 150, an angle acquisition unit 160, and a display control unit 170. The storage areas of the RAM 102 and the SSD 103 are used as the storage unit 150. The angle acquisition unit 160 and the display control unit 170 are realized by the processor 101 executing a program stored in the RAM 102.

[0050] The storage unit 150 stores various data used for the processing of the angle acquisition unit 160 and the display control unit 170.

[0051] The angle acquisition unit 160 acquires the angles detected by the sensors 107 and 109 and stores them in the storage unit 150. For example, the sensors 107 and 109 detect an event in which the inclination angle of the first housing 100a or the second housing 100b changes relatively greatly, and notify the angle acquisition unit 160 of the angle after the change as an interrupt. For example, the sensors 107 and 109 continuously detect the inclination angles of the first housing 100a and the second housing 100b respectively, and can detect that the inclination angle has changed greatly when there is an angle change equal to or greater than a threshold value within a certain period of time. The angle acquisition unit 160 acquires the notified angle, calculates the opening angle of the notebook PC 100 based on the angle, and supplies it to the display control unit 170. For example, the angle acquisition unit 160 can obtain the difference between the angle acquired from the sensor 107 and the angle acquired from the sensor 109 as the opening angle of the notebook PC 100.

[0052] The display control unit 170 controls the display of the image by the LCD 110. The display control unit 170 includes a screen rotation unit 171 and a cursor correction unit 172.

[0053] The screen rotation unit 171 automatically rotates the screen displayed on the LCD 110 based on the opening angle supplied from the angle acquisition unit 160.

[0054] The cursor correction unit 172 corrects the moving direction of the cursor operated by the touch pad 130 or the mouse according to the rotation of the screen by the screen rotation unit 171. The cursor is also called a mouse cursor.

[0055] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the opening angle of the notebook PC.

[0056] The table 200 shows the relationship between the postures of the first housing 100a and the second housing 100b, the angles (direction angles) detected by the sensors 107 and 109 respectively, and the opening angle of the notebook PC 100.

[0057] In FIG. 5, the x, y, and z axes are shown. The x-axis is an axis in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the hinge 140. The y-axis is a horizontal axis perpendicular to the x-axis. The z-axis is a vertical axis perpendicular to the x-axis and the y-axis.

[0058] Also, the arrow attached to the first housing 100a is in a direction perpendicular to the screen (LCD surface) of the LCD 110. The arrow attached to the second housing 100b is in a direction perpendicular to the back surface (KB (KeyBoard) back surface) of the keyboard 120.

[0059] With respect to the horizontal direction, the rotation angle (direction angle of the LCD surface) of the LCD surface around the x-axis (rotation axis of the hinge 140) corresponds to the inclination angle θ of the first housing 100a. Also, with respect to the horizontal direction, the rotation angle (direction angle of the KB back surface) of the KB back surface around the y-axis corresponds to the inclination angle φ of the second housing 100b. For example, when the LCD surface and the KB back surface face the ground direction (vertically downward direction), the sensors 107 and 109 detect 0° respectively.

[0060] For example, when the direction angle of the LCD surface is 0° and the direction angle of the KB back surface is 0°, that is, when the opening angle of the notebook PC 100 is 0° - 0° = 0°, it corresponds to the closed state of the notebook PC 100.

[0061] Also, for example, when the direction angle of the LCD surface is approximately 120° and the direction angle of the KB back surface is 0°, that is, when the opening angle of the notebook PC 100 is 120° - 0° = 120°, it corresponds to the first open state of the notebook PC 100. The first open state is the standard usage state of the notebook PC 100 and is called the clamshell mode. Information indicating the range of the opening angle corresponding to the first open state is pre-held in the storage unit 150.

[0062] Also, for example, when the direction angle of the LCD surface is 180° and the direction angle of the back surface of the KB is 0°, that is, when the opening angle of the notebook PC 100 is 180° - 0° = 180°, it corresponds to the second open state of the notebook PC 100. The second open state is a usage state in which the user fully opens the notebook PC 100 and shows the screen of the LCD 110 to the person facing them, which is called the screen vertical inversion mode. Information indicating the range of the opening angle corresponding to the second open state is pre-held in the storage unit 150.

[0063] Furthermore, when the direction angle of the LCD surface is approximately 120° and the direction angle of the back surface of the KB is approximately 120°, the back surfaces of the first housing 100a and the second housing 100b are joined. In this case, the rotation of the second housing 100b is in the opposite direction to that of the first housing 100a. If the inclination angle of the first housing 100a is +120°, the inclination angle of the second housing 100b is -240°. And when the opening angle of the notebook PC 100 based on these angles is 120° - (-240°) = 360°, it corresponds to the third open state of the notebook PC 100. The third open state is a usage state in which the user uses the notebook PC 100 as a tablet, which is called the tablet mode.

[0064] In the third open state (tablet mode), the processor 101 invalidates the user's operation input to the keyboard 120. In the first open state (clamshell mode) and the second open state (screen vertical inversion mode), the processor 101 validates the user's operation input to the keyboard 120.

[0065] When the screen rotation unit 171 detects that the notebook PC 100 is in the second open state (screen vertical inversion mode) based on the opening angle, the screen rotation unit 171 rotates the screen displayed on the LCD 110.

[0066] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the rotation axis of the screen rotation.

[0067] The rotation axis H of the screen rotation by the screen rotation unit 171 is an axis passing through the center M1 of the screen of the LCD 110 and perpendicular to the screen.

[0068] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example when the screen rotation angle is 0°.

[0069] For example, in the first open state (clamshell mode), without screen rotation, that is, with a screen rotation angle of 0°, the screen is displayed so that the vertically upward direction corresponds to the upper direction of the screen and the vertically downward direction corresponds to the lower direction of the screen for the user operating the notebook PC 100 to view the screen easily.

[0070] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen rotation pattern.

[0071] Table 210 shows a pattern of control of screen rotation according to the opening angle by the screen rotation unit 171.

[0072] For example, opening angles of 0° to approximately 160° correspond to the aforementioned clamshell mode (first open state). In the clamshell mode, the screen rotation is 0° or in the direction according to the manual setting of the user.

[0073] For example, around an opening angle of 180°, that is, opening angles of approximately 160° to approximately 200° correspond to the aforementioned screen vertical inversion mode (second open state). In the screen vertical inversion mode, the screen rotation is automatically rotated to 180°. Automatically rotating the screen rotation to 180° may be denoted as "vertical inversion".

[0074] For example, opening angles of 200° to 360° correspond to the aforementioned tablet mode (third open state). In the tablet mode, the screen rotation is due to the rotation by the sensor 107 (that is, the LCD angle sensor) built in the first housing 100a. For example, in the tablet mode, the screen rotation unit 171 rotates the screen displayed on the LCD 110 based on the angle (angles around each of the x, y, and z axes) detected by the sensor 107 built in the first housing 100a.

[0075] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of cursor movement direction correction.

[0076] FIG. 9(A) shows an example in which the movement direction of the cursor C1 is corrected in the screen vertical inversion mode. In the case of the screen vertical inversion mode, the cursor correction unit 172 receives, for example, a user operation input in the direction of the arrow A1 with respect to the touch pad 130 for the cursor C1 displayed on the screen of the LCD 110. Then, the cursor correction unit 172 moves the cursor C1 in the direction of an arrow B1 indicating the same direction as the direction of the arrow A1.

[0077] FIG. 9(B) shows an example in which the movement direction of the cursor C1 is not corrected in the screen vertical inversion mode. When the movement direction of the cursor C1 is not corrected, the cursor C1 is moved in the direction of an arrow B2 opposite to the arrow A1 in response to a user operation input in the direction of the arrow A1 with respect to the touch pad 130.

[0078] In this way, by correcting the movement direction of the cursor by means of the touch pad 130 or the mouse or the like, the cursor correction unit 172 can assist the user to operate the cursor C1 without discomfort even when the screen is rotated by 180° in the screen vertical inversion mode.

[0079] Next, the processing procedure of the notebook PC 100 will be described.

[0080] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a first display control example.

[0081] (S10) The sensor 107 detects an event of an angular change exceeding the threshold for the direction angle of the LCD surface, and notifies the angle acquisition unit 160 of the changed direction angle θ in the event. Further, the sensor 109 detects an event of an angular change exceeding the threshold for the direction angle of the back surface of the KB, and notifies the angle acquisition unit 160 of the changed direction angle φ in the event. The angle acquisition unit 160 acquires the direction angle θ notified from the sensor 107. Further, the angle acquisition unit 160 acquires the direction angle φ notified from the sensor 109. Note that in step S10, either one of the sensor 107 and the sensor 109 may detect an angular change, or both may detect an angular change. The angle acquisition unit 160 calculates the difference between the latest direction angle θ and the latest direction angle φ, that is, the opening angle of the notebook PC 100, and outputs it to the screen rotation unit 171.

[0082] (S11) The screen rotation unit 171 determines whether the difference between the direction angle θ and the direction angle φ calculated in step S10, that is, the opening angle of the notebook PC 100, is within the angular range of the vertical inversion mode (screen vertical inversion mode). If the opening angle is within the angular range of the vertical inversion mode, the process proceeds to step S12. If the opening angle is not included in the angular range of the vertical inversion mode, the process proceeds to step S13.

[0083] (S12) The screen rotation unit 171 rotates the screen displayed on the LCD 110 by 180° around the rotation axis H. Further, the cursor correction unit 172 starts correcting the cursor movement direction. Then, the process proceeds to step S10. When proceeding to step S10, the angle acquisition unit 160 waits for notification of the changed angle corresponding to the angular change event from the sensors 107 and 109.

[0084] (S13) The screen rotation unit 171 performs screen rotation control according to the mode corresponding to the opening angle, that is, the clamshell mode and the tablet mode. Specifically, the screen rotation unit 171 performs screen rotation control in the clamshell mode and the tablet mode according to the screen rotation pattern shown in Table 210. Then, the process proceeds to step S10. When the process proceeds to step S10, the angle acquisition unit 160 waits for a notification of the changed angle in response to an angle change event from the sensors 107 and 109.

[0085] The notebook PC 100 may perform display control of the screen of the LCD 110 according to the following procedure.

[0086] FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a second display control example.

[0087] Here, the second display control example is different from the first display control example in that steps S10a and S11a are executed instead of steps S10 and S11 among the above-described steps S10 to S13. Therefore, in the following, steps S10a and S11a will be mainly described, and the description of steps S12 and S13 will be omitted. The next of steps S12 and S13 is step S10a.

[0088] (S10a) The sensor 107 detects an event of an angle change exceeding a threshold value for the direction angle of the LCD surface, and notifies the angle acquisition unit 160 of the changed direction angle θ in the event. The angle acquisition unit 160 acquires the direction angle θ notified from the sensor 107. The angle acquisition unit 160 outputs the direction angle θ to the screen rotation unit 171.

[0089] (S11a) The screen rotation unit 171 determines whether the direction angle θ of the LCD surface is within the angular range in the vertically upward direction. When the direction angle θ is within the angular range in the vertically upward direction, the process proceeds to step S12. When the direction angle θ does not belong to the angular range in the vertically upward direction, the process proceeds to step S13.

[0090] Note that the angular range in the vertically upward direction is predetermined, for example, like 80° to 100°, and information indicating the angular range is stored in advance in the storage unit 150. Also, in this case, in step S13, the screen rotation unit 171 may detect the screen vertical inversion mode in the screen rotation pattern of FIG. 8, or may control the screen rotation by regarding the angular range corresponding to the screen vertical inversion mode as the clamshell mode.

[0091] In this way, the screen rotation unit 171 may perform the screen rotation in step S12 based only on the direction angle θ of the LCD surface, that is, the inclination angle θ of the first housing 100a, without using the direction angle φ on the back surface of the KB, depending on whether or not the angle θ corresponds to the vertically upward direction.

[0092] Furthermore, the notebook PC 100 may perform display control of the screen of the LCD 110 according to the following procedure.

[0093] FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a third display control example.

[0094] Here, the third display control example is different from the first display control example in that steps S10b and S11b are executed instead of steps S10 and S11 among steps S10 to S13 of the first display control example. Therefore, in the following, steps S10b and S11b will be mainly described, and the description of steps S12 and S13 will be omitted. The next of steps S12 and S13 is step S10b.

[0095] (S10b) The sensor 107 detects an event of an angular change exceeding a threshold value for the direction angle of the LCD surface, and notifies the angle acquisition unit 160 of the changed direction angle θ in the event. Further, the sensor 109 detects an event of an angular change exceeding a threshold value for the direction angle of the back surface of the KB, and notifies the angle acquisition unit 160 of the changed direction angle φ in the event. The angle acquisition unit 160 acquires the direction angle θ notified from the sensor 107. Further, the angle acquisition unit 160 acquires the direction angle φ notified from the sensor 109. In step S10b, either one of the sensor 107 and the sensor 109 may detect an angular change, or both may detect an angular change. The angle acquisition unit 160 calculates the difference between the latest direction angle θ and the latest direction angle φ, that is, the opening angle of the notebook PC 100, and outputs it to the screen rotation unit 171. Further, the angle acquisition unit 160 also outputs the direction angle θ notified from the sensor 107 to the screen rotation unit 171.

[0096] (S11b) The screen rotation unit 171 determines whether the direction angle θ of the LCD surface is within the angular range of the vertically upward direction and whether the difference between the direction angle θ and the direction angle φ, that is, the opening angle of the notebook PC 100, is within the angular range of the vertical inversion mode. If the direction angle θ of the LCD surface is within the angular range of the vertically upward direction and the difference between the direction angle θ and the direction angle φ, that is, the opening angle of the notebook PC 100, is within the angular range of the vertical inversion mode, the process proceeds to step S12. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S13.

[0097] In this way, the screen rotation unit 171 can also use a combination of the conditions of step S11 of the first display control example and the conditions of step S11a of the second display control example. Thereby, for example, in a usage state where the user fully opens the notebook PC and leans it against the wall and operates it using an external keyboard, the notebook PC 100 can suppress automatic rotation of the screen and control so as not to perform unnecessary screen rotation.

[0098] As described above, the notebook PC 100 includes a first housing 100a, a second housing 100b, a hinge 140, and a processor 101. The first housing 100a includes an LCD 110. The second housing 100b includes a keyboard 120. The hinge 140 connects the first housing 100a and the second housing 100b and has a rotation axis for rotating the first housing 100a. The processor 101 obtains a first angle (θ), which is the angle of rotation of the first housing 100a around the rotation axis of the hinge 140, in a state where input to the keyboard 120 is valid, and rotates the screen displayed on the LCD 110 based on the first angle.

[0099] Thereby, the notebook PC 100 can enable the user to easily use the screen rotation function. For example, the user may place the notebook PC 100 on a table or the like, rotate the first housing 100a to about θ = 180°, and explain the content of the screen to the other user facing the user while showing the screen of the LCD 110 to the other user. In this case, for the other user facing the user, it is difficult to view the content of the screen because the orientation of the screen is reversed. Therefore, the notebook PC 100 can automatically rotate the screen displayed on the LCD 110 based on the rotation angle θ of the first housing 100a, so that the user can easily use the screen rotation function without being forced to perform an operation for screen rotation. Note that the hinge 140 is an example of the connection portion 15 in the first embodiment.

[0100] For example, as described in the second display control example of FIG. 11, the processor 101 determines whether the first angle (θ) belongs to a first angle range indicating that the display surface of the LCD 110 is vertically upward, and may rotate the screen when the first angle belongs to the first angle range.

[0101] Thereby, the notebook PC 100 can enable the user to easily use the screen rotation function. The angle range used for the determination in step S11a in the second display control example of FIG. 11 is an example of the first angle range.

[0102] Also, as described in the first display control example of FIG. 10, the processor 101 may further obtain a second angle of rotation of the second housing 100b around the rotation axis of the hinge 140. The processor 101 may calculate the opening angle of the first housing 100a with respect to the second housing 100b based on the difference between the first angle and the second angle. Then, the processor 101 may determine whether the opening angle belongs to a predetermined second angle range including 180°, and may rotate the screen when the opening angle belongs to the second angle range.

[0103] Thereby, the notebook PC 100 can appropriately detect the state where the first housing 100a is fully opened, and can enable the user to easily use the screen rotation function. The range of the opening angle corresponding to the screen vertical inversion mode of FIG. 8 is an example of the second angle range. The angle φ detected by the sensor 109 corresponds to the second angle.

[0104] Also, as described in the third display control example of FIG. 12, the processor 101 may determine whether the first angle belongs to a first angle range indicating that the display surface of the LCD 110 is vertically upward, and whether the opening angle belongs to the second angle range. The processor 101 may rotate the screen when the first angle belongs to the first angle range and the opening angle belongs to the second angle range.

[0105] Thereby, the notebook PC 100 can suppress unnecessary screen rotation and enable the user to easily use the screen rotation function.

[0106] Also, in the rotation of the screen based on the first angle, the processor 101 rotates the screen 180° around an axis (rotation axis H in FIG. 6) perpendicular to the screen and passing through the center of the screen.

[0107] Thereby, the notebook PC 100 can display the screen so that it is easy for the person facing the user to see.

[0108] Furthermore, when the processor 101 receives a user's operation input from a pointing device for the cursor displayed on the screen, it corrects the moving direction of the cursor by the operation input according to the rotation of the screen. For example, for a 180° rotation of the screen, the moving direction of the cursor without correction is a direction rotated 180° with respect to the operation direction on the screen display. Therefore, the processor 101 sets the direction obtained by further rotating the direction rotated 180° with respect to the operation direction as the moving direction of the cursor after correction. In this way, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the processor 101 can correct the moving direction of the cursor so as to match the moving direction actually operationally input by the user after the screen rotation.

[0109] Thereby, when the screen of the notebook PC 100 is rotated, it is possible to suppress a sense of strangeness in the moving direction of the cursor with respect to the moving operation of the cursor by the user, and support the user to be able to intuitively operate the cursor.

[0110] Note that the information processing of the first embodiment can be realized by causing the processing unit 14 to execute a program. Also, the information processing of the second embodiment can be realized by causing the processor 101 to execute a program. The program can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium 20.

[0111] For example, the program can be distributed by distributing the recording medium 20 on which the program is recorded. Also, the program may be stored in another computer and distributed via a network. The computer may store (install) the program recorded on the recording medium 20 or the program received from another computer in a storage device such as the RAM 102 or the SSD 103, and read and execute the program from the storage device.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0112] 10 Notebook computer 10a First housing 10b Second housing 11 Display 12 Sensor 13 Keyboard 14 Processing unit 15 Connection part

Claims

1. A first housing including a display, A second housing including a keyboard, A connection part connecting the first housing and the second housing and having a rotation axis for rotating the first housing, A processing unit that, when an input to the keyboard is valid, obtains a first angle that is an angle of rotation of the first housing around the rotation axis, and rotates a screen displayed on the display based on the first angle, A notebook computer having the above components.

2. The processing unit determines whether the first angle belongs to a first angle range indicating that the display surface of the display is vertically upward, and when the first angle belongs to the first angle range, rotates the screen. The notebook computer according to Claim 1.

3. The processing unit further obtains a second angle of rotation of the second housing around the rotation axis, calculates an opening angle of the first housing with respect to the second housing based on a difference between the first angle and the second angle, determines whether the opening angle belongs to a predetermined second angle range including 180°, and rotates the screen when the opening angle belongs to the second angle range. The notebook computer according to Claim 1.

4. The processing unit determines whether the first angle belongs to a first angle range indicating that the display surface of the display is vertically upward and whether the opening angle belongs to the second angle range. When the first angle belongs to the first angle range and the opening angle belongs to the second angle range, the processing unit rotates the screen. The notebook computer according to Claim 3.

5. In the rotation of the screen, the processing unit rotates the screen 180° around an axis perpendicular to the screen and passing through the center of the screen. The notebook computer according to Claim 1.

6. When the processing unit receives a user's operation input by a pointing device with respect to a cursor displayed on the screen, the processing unit corrects a moving direction of the cursor by the operation input according to the rotation of the screen. The notebook computer according to Claim 1.

7. When a computer is in a state where an input to a keyboard is valid, it is a connection part connecting a first housing including a display and a second housing including the keyboard, and obtains a first angle that is an angle of rotation of the first housing around the rotation axis of the connection part having the rotation axis for rotating the first housing. Rotating the screen displayed on the display based on the first angle Control method. **Claim 8** A computer, In a state where input to the keyboard is valid, a connection part that connects a first housing including a display and a second housing including the keyboard, and obtains a first angle that is an angle of rotation of the first housing around the rotation axis of the connection part having a rotation axis for rotating the first housing, Rotating the screen displayed on the display based on the first angle Program for executing the process.

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