JP2004180080A - Portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable terminal in which a keylock can be released even though a specific key is not pressed down and which is excellent in operability. <P>SOLUTION: This portable terminal is an openable and closable portable terminal, and when the portable terminal is opened after internal and external keys are locked in its closed state, the keylock can be released. In addition, when the portable terminal is closed from its opened state, the internal and external keys can be locked again. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, and more specifically, to a mobile terminal having a key lock function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable terminals have been used as highly functional terminals for the Internet, e-mail, display of moving images / still images, schedule management, etc. in addition to telephone functions. With the mounting of these advanced functions, the display unit of the portable terminal has been changed to color and high resolution, and a large-screen display unit has been provided.
In order to make it easier to use these high-function and large-screen mobile terminals, the conventional mobile terminals can be operated with a display-side housing so that information on the display unit can be checked even when the mobile terminal is folded. A configuration in which a display unit is exposed when two housings of a housing unit are closed is disclosed (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-7-288860 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-292213 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in a portable terminal capable of confirming information on the display unit even when the two casings are closed, operation keys exposed in the closed state can operate the portable terminal, thereby causing a malfunction. Therefore, by providing a key lock function for invalidating the input of the operation keys exposed in the closed state, it is possible to prevent a malfunction in a pocket, bag, or the like.
However, in the structure of the portable terminal, in which the information on the display unit can be confirmed even when the two housings are closed, although opening the two housings necessarily uses the operation unit. However, if the key is locked in the closed state, the key lock must be released in the open state, or the key lock must be released again by closing the portable terminal.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a portable terminal of the present invention is a portable terminal in which a display unit side housing and an operation unit side housing can be opened and closed, and an operation key which is at least exposed with both housings closed. And key release means for releasing the key lock when both housings are opened after the operation keys are locked by the key lock means.
It is preferable that the key lock means of the portable terminal relocks the operation keys when both housings are closed after the key lock is released by the key lock release means.
The mobile terminal includes a control unit that continues the function of the mobile terminal used when both housings are open, and a function that continues the function even when both housings are closed. It is characterized in that the operation keys are re-locked after the function is completed after the operation is performed.
[0006]
Further, the portable terminal includes a timer for measuring time after both housings are closed, and the key lock unit operates the operation key after the clocking unit measures a predetermined time since both housings are closed. It is characterized by re-locking.
The mobile terminal of the present invention includes a so-called mobile phone represented by a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) system, a PDC (Personal Digital Cellular) system, a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) system, and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). ) Is also included. Here, in the case of a PDA, a communication means may be externally connected in addition to a built-in communication means.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2A is a side view when the portable terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention is closed, and FIG. 2B is a front view thereof. It is. FIG. 3A is a front view of the portable terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention when it is opened, FIG. 3B is a rear view of the portable terminal, and FIG. It is a side view at the time of opening.
[0008]
(1) Functional block diagram of mobile terminal (Fig. 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the mobile terminal includes an antenna 1, a radio unit 2, a microphone 18, an amplifier 19, a receiving speaker 20, an amplifier 21, a ringtone speaker 22, a control unit (CPU) 23, a key lock detection unit 23a, and an operation unit 24. , A memory 25, a display unit 26, a vibrator 27, and an open / close detection unit 28.
[0009]
The antenna 1 is an antenna for communicating with a base station. The received signal received by the antenna 1 is passed to the radio unit 2 and demodulated. The demodulated received signal is processed in a frame unit by a frame processor, decoded by a codec, and output as sound from a receiving speaker 20 via an amplifier 19.
The audio signal input from the microphone 18 is coded by a codec, processed by the frame processor in units of frames, and modulated by the radio unit 2. The modulated transmission signal is transmitted to the base station via the antenna 1.
[0010]
The control unit (CPU) 23 controls the entire terminal in accordance with the control of the wireless unit 2 and a signal from the operation unit 24. The ringtone is output from the ringtone speaker 22 via the amplifier 21. The amplifier 19 for the receiving speaker 20 and the amplifier 21 for the ring tone speaker 22 are both amplifiers whose amplification degree can be changed. The amplification degree of the amplifier 19 for the receiving speaker 20 can also be set from the operation unit 24. The same applies to the amplification degree of the amplifier 21 for the ring tone speaker 22.
[0011]
The open / close detection unit 28 is also connected to the control unit (CPU) 23. The open / close detection unit 28 detects the open / close state of the main body and sends information representing the open / close state to the control unit (CPU) 23. Further, the control unit (CPU) 23 has a built-in key lock detection unit 23a, and information indicating "lock ON" when the inside and outside keys are locked, and "lock OFF" when the keys are unlocked. Is stored in the memory 25.
[0012]
(2) Side view and front view in closed state (FIG. 2)
FIG. 2A is a side view showing a closed state (closed state) of the mobile terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a front view thereof.
In FIG. 2, 201 is a side controller, 203 is a side key, 205 is an antenna, 207a and 207b are receiving speakers, and 209 is a display unit. The mobile terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a display unit side housing 213a and an operation unit side housing 213b, and the display unit 209 is exposed in a closed state. In the closed state, the operation unit of the operation unit housing 213b is covered by the display unit housing 213a, and when opened, the display unit housing 213a is perpendicular to the surface of the operation unit housing 213b having the operation unit. The operation part of the operation part side housing 213b is exposed to the outside when it is turned around the main shaft (rotation shaft 211) and fully opened. At this time, the display unit side housing 213a is inclined at a predetermined angle range (110 ° or more and less than 180 °) with respect to the surface of the operation unit side housing 213b having the operation unit. The side controller 201 and the side key 203 are always exposed to the outside.
[0013]
The side controller 201 can be moved up, down, left, and right, and can also be pushed. Specifically, the user operates the cursor when selecting a desired menu (icon, image file) from a plurality of menu items, icons, image files, and the like displayed on the display unit 209, and scrolls the screen. Move up, down, left and right at times. Further, when the selected menu (icon, image file) is determined, a pressing operation is performed. FIG. 2B is a front view when viewed from the direction of the arrow in FIG.
[0014]
(3) Front view and rear view in open state (FIG. 3)
FIG. 3A is a front view when the display unit side housing 213a is rotated about the rotation shaft 211 in FIG. 2 and the mobile terminal is opened. FIG. 3B is a rear view thereof. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a first operation unit such as a direction key, a function key, and a transmission / reception key; 303, a second operation unit such as a numeric keypad which also serves as a character input; 305, a self-mirror (also used as a lens cover); Is a camera, and 309 is a microphone for recording.
[0015]
The first operation unit 301 in FIG. 3A can move a cursor, a screen, and the like up, down, left, and right, and can also press it. Specifically, when a desired menu (icon, image file) is selected from among a plurality of menu items, icons, image files, and the like displayed on the display unit 209, the user moves up, down, left, and right. Further, the button is pressed to determine the selected menu (icon, image file).
[0016]
The second operation unit 303 is used for inputting the telephone number of the other party, and inputting characters and numerals such as the text, address, and title of the mail. The self-mirror 305 is used as a mirror when photographing itself with a camera. The recording microphone 309 captures sound at the time of recording a moving image, and the acquired audio data is stored in the memory 25 by the control unit (CPU) 23 together with the image. Thereafter, when a signal instructing reproduction is transmitted from the key operation unit 303 or the like, the control unit (CPU) 23 reads out the image and audio data from the memory 25 again and outputs the data from the receiving speaker 207a or 207b.
[0017]
A portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention has two speakers 207a and 207b, and is disposed vertically above and below a display unit 209, and a sound collection hole of each speaker is opened on a surface having the display unit 209. are doing. Further, one microphone 311 is provided in the operation unit side housing 213b, and is opened at an end of a surface having the operation units 301 to 303.
As described above, since the mobile terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the speakers 207a and 207b above and below the display unit side housing 213a, it is possible to perform a call not only in the open state but also in the closed state. Can be.
When a call is made in the open state, the speaker 207b that is farther from the microphone 311 (farther than the connecting unit 401 in FIG. 4) is operated, and the speaker 207b closer to the microphone 311 (one closer to the connecting unit 401 in FIG. 4). The speaker 207a) is deactivated.
When a call is made in the closed state, the speaker 207a is operated and the speaker 207b is not operated.
[0018]
(4) Side view of open state (FIG. 4)
FIGS. 4A and 4B are side views showing a state in which the portable terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention is open (open state). Reference numeral 401 denotes a connecting portion between the display-unit-side housing 213a and the operation-unit-side housing 213b. The display-unit-side housing 213a has a predetermined angle range θ ( 110 ° or more and less than 180 °). In addition, both housing | casing inclines with the rotation operation | movement of two housing | casing.
[0019]
(5) First embodiment of the present invention (FIGS. 5 and 6)
The portable terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a portable terminal that can be opened and closed. After the inside and outside keys are locked in a closed state, the key lock can be released by opening the key. Further, when the state is changed from the open state to the closed state, the keys inside and outside can be locked again.
In order to realize the above operation, in the portable terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention, the opening / closing detection unit 28 is arranged on the connection unit 401 that connects the display unit side housing 213a and the operation unit side housing 213b.
[0020]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the flag (FLAG) = 1 when the key is locked in the closed state, and the flag (FLAG) = 0 when the key is not locked in the closed state.
In S501, the flag value is initialized. In this state, FLAG = 0, that is, a state in which the key is not locked (here, referred to as a normal mode).
Next, in S503, when the open / close detection unit 28 detects that the display unit side housing 213a and the operation unit side housing 213b are in an open state (the terminal main body is in an open state), a process A (FIG. 6) Proceed to. Processing A will be described later.
[0021]
On the other hand, if the open state is not detected by the open / close detection unit 28, it is checked whether a key input has been made (S505). If a key input has been made, it is checked whether the side key 203 has been pressed for a long time. (S507).
If the long press is confirmed in S507, it is confirmed whether or not FLAG = 0 (S509). As a result, if FLAG = 0, the keys inside and outside are locked (S511), and then FLAG = 1 is set (S513). As a result, the terminal enters a key lock state (here, referred to as a key lock mode).
[0022]
On the other hand, if FLAG = 1 as a result of S509, the key locks inside and outside are released (S515), and then FLAG = 0 is set (S517). As a result, the terminal enters the normal mode.
If the long press is not confirmed in S507, it is confirmed whether or not FLAG = 0 (S519). As a result, if FLAG = 0 (normal mode), processing corresponding to the key operation is performed (S521). If FLAG = 1 (key lock mode) as a result of S519, the key operation is invalidated (S523).
When the predetermined processing (S513, S517, S521, S523) ends, the process returns to the previous determination processing (S503).
[0023]
Next, the processing A will be described with reference to FIG.
First, in S601, it is confirmed whether or not FLAG = 1 (S601). As a result, if FLAG = 1, the inner and outer key locks are released (S603). Subsequently, when the opening / closing detection unit 28 detects that the terminal body has been closed (S605), it is checked whether FLAG = 1 (S619). As a result of S619, when it is confirmed that FLAG = 1, the internal and external keys are locked (S621), and the process proceeds to processing B. That is, the process returns to the processing (S503) in FIG. As a result of S619, when it is not confirmed that FLAG = 1, the process proceeds to processing B as it is.
[0024]
On the other hand, if the open / close detection unit 28 has not detected the closed state in S605, it is determined whether a key input has been performed (S607). As a result, if a key input has been made, it is determined whether the side key 203 has been pressed for a long time (S609). If the result of S607 is that no key input has been made, the process returns to the preprocessing (S605).
If the side key 203 is pressed for a long time in S609, it is checked whether or not FLAG = 1 (S611). If FLAG = 1, FLAG = 0 is set (S617). On the other hand, if the result of S611 is that FLAG = 1, FLAG = 1 is set (S615).
If the side key 203 has not been pressed for a long time in S609, processing corresponding to the key operation is performed (S613).
When the setting of the flag value (S615, S617) or the process according to the key operation (S613) is completed, the process returns to the previous determination process (S605).
[0025]
(6) Second embodiment of the present invention (FIGS. 7 and 8)
The portable terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention is a portable terminal that can be opened and closed, and continues to use the function used when both casings are open even when both casings are closed. After the end, it is confirmed whether or not the key lock is set, and if it is set, the operation key can be re-locked.
In order to realize the above operation, in the portable terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention, the opening / closing detection unit 28 is arranged on the connection unit 401 that connects the display unit side housing 213a and the operation unit side housing 213b.
[0026]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In S801 of FIG. 8, the mail is created in the open state. FIG. 7A shows the state of the display unit 209 at this time. When the open / closed state detection unit 28 detects the closed state during mail creation (S803), the process proceeds to mail creation in the closed state (S805).
Thereafter, when the mail creation is completed (S807), the control unit (CPU) 23 checks whether or not the display unit 209 is displaying a standby screen (S809). FIG. 7B shows the standby screen. If it is confirmed that the standby screen is displayed, the key lock detecting unit 23a is activated to check whether the key lock is set (S811). In S809, if it is not confirmed that the standby screen is displayed, the same determination (S809) is repeated until it is confirmed.
If the setting of the key lock is confirmed in S811, the inner and outer keys are locked again (S813), and the process ends. On the other hand, if the setting of the key lock has not been confirmed in S811, the process ends.
[0027]
(7) Third embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 9)
The portable terminal according to the third embodiment of the present invention is a portable terminal that can be opened and closed, and can lock the operation keys again after a predetermined time has been measured after both casings are closed.
In order to realize the above operation, in the portable terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention, the opening / closing detection unit 28 is arranged on the connection unit 401 that connects the display unit side housing 213a and the operation unit side housing 213b. An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0028]
When the open / closed state detection unit 28 detects the closed state in S901 of FIG. 9, the control unit (CPU) 23 activates the key lock detection unit 23a and checks whether the key lock is set (S903). . As a result of S903, if the setting of the key lock is not confirmed, the processing is ended as it is.
On the other hand, if the result of S903 indicates that the key lock setting has been confirmed, the timer is started (S905), and it is confirmed whether the timer has expired (S907). As a result of S907, when the expiration of the timer is confirmed, the internal and external keys are re-locked (S911), and the process ends.
[0029]
On the other hand, as a result of S907, if the expiration of the timer is not confirmed, it is confirmed whether or not a key operation has been performed (S909). If a key operation has been performed, the timer is stopped (S913), and the key operation is performed. The processing performed is performed (S915).
If there is no key operation as a result of S909, the process returns to the timer expiration confirmation process (S907) and repeats the same process (S907 to 915).
After executing the process corresponding to the key operation, the process returns to S905, starts the timer, and locks again after the timer expires.
[0030]
Note that the key lock by long-pressing the side key may be performed only on the operation unit (side controller 201, side key 203) exposed in the closed state. Therefore, when the key lock is applied only to the exposed operation unit (side controller 201, side key 203), the exposed operation unit (side controller 201, side key 203) is re-locked in the above embodiment. Only the key is locked.
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above description, and it is apparent that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since the operation key can be used only by performing the opening operation from the key locked state in the closed state, the operation time can be reduced as compared with the related art.
When the key is closed again, the key is locked again, so there is no need to perform another key lock operation by key operation.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a portable terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram when the portable terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention is closed.
FIG. 3 is a diagram when the portable terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention is opened.
FIG. 4 is a side view when the portable terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention is opened.
FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart for explaining the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart for explaining the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a screen transition diagram for explaining the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart for explaining the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an operation flowchart for explaining the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
23 control unit 24 operation unit 25 memory 26 display unit 28 open / close detection unit

Claims (4)

In a portable terminal in which the display unit side housing and the operation unit side housing can be opened and closed,
Key locking means for locking at least the operation keys that are exposed in a state where both housings are closed,
A portable terminal, comprising: key lock releasing means for releasing the key lock when the two housings are opened after the operation keys are locked by the key lock means. The mobile terminal according to claim 1,
The portable terminal, wherein the key lock unit relocks the operation keys when the two housings are closed after the key lock is released by the key lock release unit. The mobile terminal according to claim 1,
Control means for continuing the function even when both the housings are closed, the function of the portable terminal used when both the housings are open,
The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein the key lock unit re-locks the operation keys after the functions are completed after the two housings are closed. The mobile terminal according to claim 1,
Timing means for measuring the time after the two housings are closed,
The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein the key lock unit re-locks the operation key after the timing unit measures a predetermined time after the two housings are closed.

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