IP Library Granted Patent US 8,696,471
Granted Patent B2
US 8,696,471 · App. 13/355,824 · Granted Apr 15, 2014

Portable electronic device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,696,471
App. No.
13/355,824
Granted
Apr 15, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device ( 1 ) has hold parts ( 1 R, 1 L) constituting respective right and left side parts of the electronic device 1 and being available to be held by a user. Operating sticks ( 3 R, 3 L) are provided on the respective hold parts ( 1 R, 1 L). A rear touch panel ( 21 ) is provided on the rear surface of the electronic device ( 1 ). The rear touch panel ( 21 ) is provided in at least an area located further upward than a positions P opposite from the operation sticks ( 3 R, 3 L). This layout of the rear touch panel ( 21 ) allows a user to smoothly operate the rear touch panel ( 21 ) while holding the hold parts of the electronic device.

Claims (21)

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a front surface having a display area;

at least one of: (i) a right hold part positioned to a right of the display area, constituting a right part of the electronic device, and (ii) a left hold part positioned to a left of the display area, constituting a left part of the electronic device, the at least one hold part being available to be held by a user;

at least one of: (i) a right operative stick provided on the right hold part and (ii) a left operative stick provided on the left hold part, the at least one operative stick being positioned on the front surface of the electronic device;

a rear touch panel provided on a rear surface of the electronic device, the rear touch panel having a portion located further upward than a position of the at least one operative stick on the front surface; and

a guide located on a surface of the at least one hold part, adjacent to the rear touch panel, and opposite to the at least one operative stick, the guide including a concave surface for guiding a user's fingers to the rear touch panel.

2. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the rear touch panel is offset upward relative to the at least one operative stick.

3. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the operative stick is movable in radius directions.

4. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein a space is ensured between the guide and the area where the rear touch panel is located.

5. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein a surface of the guide has a style different from that of a surface of the area where the rear touch panel is located.

6. The portable electronic device according to claim 5 , wherein a material forming the surface of the guide differs from a material forming a surface of the area where the rear touch panel is located.

7. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the rear surface of the electronic device has a slope between a deepest position in the guide and an edge of the guide toward the rear touch panel.

8. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein a width of the rear touch panel is smaller than a width of the display area.

9. The portable electronic device according to claim 8 , wherein the rear touch panel is offset upward relative to a center in an up-down direction of the electronic device.

10. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein an outer circumferential part of the rear surface is curved toward the front surface.

11. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the rear surface has a flat surface continuing downward from a surface of the area where the rear touch panel is located.

12. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein left and right edges of the electronic device are curved into a semi-arc shape in a front view of the electronic device.

13. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein a center of the guide in an up-down direction of the electronic device is positioned further downward than a center of the rear touch panel.

14. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein a center of the guide in an up-down direction of the electronic device is positioned further upward than the position of the at least one operative stick.

15. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide is located at least partially within the at least one hold part.

16. The portable electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein, the guide is located entirely within the at least one hold part.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 6, 2017
From: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
To: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 043761/0577 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2017
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 043761/0975 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2013
From: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 031584/0527 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2012
From: SAKAKIBARA, KENJI; SOGABE, TAKASHI; WAKABAYASHI, KAZUYA
To: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 027795/0116 →