Dual orientation display handheld computer devices

Abstract

A computer device, for instance a palmtop personal organizer, has a dual-orientation display device with both portrait and landscape modes of viewing the display. The keyboard is automatically disabled when the portrait mode is selected by a user. The display has two digitized regions separated by a workspace, which is preferably also digitized to provide input commands to a processor unit when touched. The display further includes indicia, such as icons or symbols shown on the display, which may be selected to activate a computer program, function or command. These icons are slanted and permanently fixed to the display, so they may be readily understood when viewed from either the portrait or landscape modes. A method is also provided of displaying indicia for viewing from two orthogonal directions. The invention further includes a way to use an analog touch-sensitive panel, having opposing resistive layers, to trigger an interrupt line used for returning the palmtop from a sleep mode. In addition, screen image rotation is accomplished by alternately configuring sets of LCD select lines either as column lines or row lines.