IP Library Granted Patent US 9,055,164
Granted Patent B2
US 9,055,164 · App. 12/374,946 · Granted Jun 9, 2015

Mobile terminal device, time control method, and timer control program

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,055,164
App. No.
12/374,946
Granted
Jun 9, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a mobile terminal device capable of performing, when a user moves the mobile terminal device as if the user operated an hourglass, a screen display and a time measurement accordingly. The mobile phone device 10 comprises a display unit 13 , an inclination sensor 20 , an hourglass function control unit 31 for measuring a set time and displaying the image of the hourglass on the display unit 13 , and an inclination deciding unit 32 for controlling the time measured by the hourglass function control unit 31 , on the basis of measured data from the inclination sensor 20.

Claims (26)

1. A mobile terminal device comprising:

a display unit;

an inclination sensor that outputs an amount of inclination about a Y-axis and an amount of inclination about an X-axis;

a timer unit that measures a set time and displays a state of a time measurement on said display unit; and

a control unit that controls the time measured by said timer unit based on the amount of inclination about the Y-axis,

wherein, while said control unit determines that the mobile terminal device is placed on a horizontal plane based on the amount of inclination about the X-axis, said control unit corrects the amount of the inclination about the Y-axis so that the timer unit continues to measure the set time.

2. The mobile terminal device as defined in claim 1 , wherein said control unit instructs said timer unit to start measuring time when the amount of inclination about the Y-axis, measured by said acceleration sensor, meets a predetermined condition.

3. The mobile terminal device as defined in claim 1 , wherein said control unit instructs said timer unit to start measuring time when said control unit detects that the mobile terminal device has been turned upside down and further returned to an original position, based on the amount of inclination about the Y-axis by said inclination sensor.

4. The mobile terminal device as defined in claim 1 , wherein said control unit instructs said timer unit to reset and restart when the amount of inclination about the Y-axis measured by said inclination sensor meets a predetermined condition after said timer unit has started measuring time.

5. The mobile terminal device as defined in claim 1 , wherein said control unit instructs said timer unit to reset and restart when, after said timer unit has started measuring time, said control unit detects that the mobile terminal device has been turned upside down and further returned to the original position, based on the amount of inclination about the Y-axis measured by said inclination sensor.

6. The mobile terminal device as defined in claim 1 , wherein said state of a time measurement is displayed using an image of an hourglass.

7. A time control method comprising:

measuring a degree of inclination about a Y-axis and a degree of inclination about an X-axis using an inclination sensor; and

controlling a time measured by a timer unit according to the amount of inclination about the Y-axis, and

wherein, while it is determined that a device including the inclination sensor is placed on a horizontal plane based on the amount of inclination about the X-axis, correcting the amount of inclination about the Y-axis so that said timer unit continues to measure time.

8. The time control method as defined in claim 7 , wherein said timer unit is caused to start measuring time when the amount of inclination about the Y-axis, measured by said inclination sensor, meets a predetermined condition.

9. The time control method as defined in claim 7 , wherein said timer unit is caused to start measuring time when the measured data from said inclination sensor indicated that the device has been turned upside down and further returned to an original position, based on the amount of inclination about the Y-axis measured by said inclination sensor.

10. The time control method as defined in claim 7 , wherein said timer unit is caused to reset and restarted when the amount of inclination about the Y-axis measured by said acceleration sensor meets a predetermined condition after said timer unit has started measuring time.

11. The time control method as defined in claim 7 , wherein said timer unit is caused to reset and restarted when the amount of inclination about the Y-axis measured by said acceleration sensor meets a predetermined condition after said timer unit has started measuring time.

12. The time control method as defined in claim 7 , wherein the amount of inclination about the Y-axis measured by said inclination sensor is corrected using the amount of inclination about the X-axis.

13. The time control method as defined in claim 7 , wherein said inclination sensor measures the degree of inclination of a mobile terminal device.

14. The time control method as defined in claim 7 , wherein a state of a time measurement is displayed on a display unit of said mobile terminal device.

15. A timer control program having a mobile terminal device execute:

a timer function that measures a set time and displays a state of a time measurement on a provided display unit; and

a control function that controls the time measured by said timer function based on an amount of inclination about a Y-axis output by an inclination sensor,

wherein, while said control function determines that the mobile terminal device is placed on a horizontal plane based on an amount of inclination about an X-axis output by said inclination sensor, said control function corrects the amount of inclination about the Y-axis so that said timer control function continues to measure the set time.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2014
From: NEC CORPORATION
To: LENOVO INNOVATIONS LIMITED (HONG KONG)
Reel/Frame 033720/0767 →