JP4501001B2 - Mobile device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal.

  In portable terminals such as mobile phones and PHS (Personal Handyphone System), the number of character input keys for inputting characters has been limited due to the demand for miniaturization. Allocation is done.

  In the conventional portable terminal, each time the user presses the character input key, the character assigned to the character input key can be selected one by one, and by selecting the character that the user can select, The character is entered. For this reason, the user must press the character input key until the character to be input becomes selectable, which is troublesome and tends to cause erroneous operations due to repeated hitting of the character input key. It was.

  As a solution to this inconvenience, a protrusion is provided at the center, left and right and top and bottom of the base side surface of the operation unit operated by the user when inputting characters, and characters are input at positions corresponding to the protrusion. There has been known a portable terminal provided with a switch to perform (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In this portable terminal, for example, the characters of the “a” line are assigned to the center and the top, bottom, left, and right, respectively, and when the operation unit is pressed in the vertical direction, the protrusion provided at the center of the base side of the operation unit When the switch is pressed, the character “A” is input. Similarly, when the operation unit is pressed leftward, the character “I” is input. When the operation unit is pressed upward, the character “U” is input. When pressed in the direction, the character “e” is input, and when pressed downward, the character “o” is input.

Also, a stick type switch is provided, and when the operation unit is pressed vertically and vertically and horizontally, the center axis of the stick type switch is tilted accordingly, so that characters corresponding to each direction are input. A portable terminal is also disclosed (see Patent Document 1).
JP2003-296001A

  However, in portable terminals each provided with a switch for inputting characters at a position corresponding to the protrusion formed on the conventional operation unit, some fixing means is used to stabilize the operation unit with respect to the base provided with the switch. Since it is necessary to provide, there existed a problem that manufacture was difficult and cost also became high.

  In addition, a portable terminal using a stick-type switch has a problem that the cost is high because the switch structure is complicated.

  Therefore, the present invention can prevent troublesomeness and input errors caused by repeatedly hitting one character input key when inputting characters, and can be easily manufactured at a low cost with a simple configuration. The purpose is to provide a terminal.

The invention according to claim 1 is a portable terminal having a character input key for inputting a character, wherein the character input key is formed at an operation unit operated by a user and an end of the operation unit, a fitting portion in which a plurality of pressing portions, the operating unit fitted to the foundation in order to support the foundation character selectively presses the switch for inputting a provided, the operating unit A side surface of the base, in the vicinity of the pressing portion, and a cut portion formed to expand in the base side direction and having a triangular cross section, and is formed of an elastically deformable material. And

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since a plurality of pressing portions are formed at the end portion of the character input key made of the elastic deformable material, the pressing portion in charge of the character desired by the user is selected and pressed. Then, the pressed portion is deformed and the corresponding switch is pressed to input a character. Therefore, if one character is assigned to each pressing portion, all characters can be input without repeatedly pressing the character input key.

  Moreover, at the time of manufacture, the operation part can be supported by the base simply by fitting the fitting part to the base. Since the fitting portion is formed of an elastically deformable material, the fitting portion is easy to fit.

In addition, distortion due to the pressing portion being pressed and the vicinity of the pressing portion is deformed is absorbed by the cut portion, and the vicinity of the pressing portion is more easily deformed, and the proximity operation of the pressing portion with respect to the switch is assisted.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the mobile terminal according to claim 1, the distal end portion of the fitting portion has a slit for aiding the expansion and contraction in the direction perpendicular to the fitting direction of the fitting portion and wherein a call.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the slit is provided at the tip of the fitting portion, when the fitting portion is fitted to the base, the slit is closed and the fitting is easy. After the fitting, the slit is prevented from opening and the fitting part is prevented from coming out.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the user selects and presses the pressing part that handles the desired character, the pressing part is deformed and the corresponding switch is pressed to input the character. It is possible to prevent bothersomeness and input errors caused by repeatedly pressing one character input key when inputting.

  In addition, at the time of manufacture, the operation portion can be supported by the base simply by fitting the insertion portion to the base, and since the insertion portion can be easily inserted by elastic deformation, a simple configuration Therefore, it can be easily manufactured at low cost.

In addition, since the close-up operation of the pressing portion with respect to the switch is assisted by the notch portion provided in the vicinity of the pressing portion, a desired character can be input more reliably.

According to the invention described in claim 2 , since the slit is provided at the tip of the fitting portion, the fitting portion is more easily fitted into the base and the pressing part is supported with respect to the base at the time of manufacturing. In addition, the character input key can be more reliably prevented from falling off after being fitted.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a cellular phone to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile phone 1 has an antenna 3 for communicating with a base station (not shown) at the top of a housing 2. For example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided on the upper surface of the housing 2, and a display unit 4 for displaying characters and the like is provided. A user instruction is displayed on the lower part of the display unit 4. An input unit 5 for inputting is provided. In addition, a control device (not shown) for controlling each part of the mobile phone is provided inside the casing 2 and controls an instruction from the user input by the input unit 5 as an electrical signal. A base 6 (see FIG. 2) for input to the apparatus is provided.

  The input unit 5 is provided on the top surface of the housing 2 and has a power button 7 for turning on and off the power, a communication button 8 for making and receiving calls, and a character input for inputting characters such as numbers, kana and English characters. Key 9 and various services provided by the mobile phone company, etc., various functions provided in the mobile phone 1, number mode for inputting numbers, kana mode for inputting kana characters, and inputting alphabetic characters It is composed of a selection button 10 for manually selecting an alphabetic mode or selecting a candidate for kanji conversion, and a shift key 11 disposed on the surface of the housing 2 for converting uppercase and lowercase letters. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 2, insertion holes 12 for fitting the character input keys 9 are provided at predetermined positions corresponding to the character input keys 9 of the base 6. The insertion hole 12 is formed such that its inlet is narrower than the inside.

  In addition, for example, a membrane switch 13 is provided at a predetermined position on the display unit side and the side opposite to the insertion hole 12 so as to transmit an electric signal corresponding to each character to the control device when pressed. Each switch 13 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, each character input key 9 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and has an operation unit 14 that is operated by a finger when a user inputs a character. As shown in FIG. 2, push-down portions 15 for selectively depressing the switch 13 provided on the base 6 protrude from the display-side end and the end opposite to the base 14 respectively. Is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, on the upper surface of the operation unit 14 and corresponding to each pressing unit 15, characters input by the user pressing the pressing unit 15 are written. .

  The mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment has three character input keys 9 in addition to the ten character input keys 9 for inputting numbers 0 to 9 in the number mode. The two pressing portions 15 provided are in charge of 26 alphabets A to Z one by one, and press the switch 13 that transmits an electrical signal related to each alphabet.

  For example, the alphabetic assignment is performed by, for example, the pressing unit 15 on the display unit side of the character input key 9 for inputting “1” in the numeric mode in charge of “A” and “1”, and the pressing unit 15 on the opposite side. The pressing unit 15 on the display side of the character input key 9 for inputting “2” in charge of “B” is in charge of “C” and “2”, and the pressing unit 15 on the opposite side is in charge of “C” and “2”. It may be assigned in alphabetical order, such as in charge of “D”. In this case, “1” and “A” are written on the upper part (display part side) of the upper surface of the operation part 14, and “B” is written on the lower part (side facing the display part side). Become.

  In the present embodiment, the control device is configured to input Japanese in Roman letters according to the electrical signals relating to the alphabet transmitted from each switch 13.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, in the vicinity of each pressing portion 15, a cut portion 16 on a cross-sectional triangle extending from one side portion of the operation portion 14 to the other side portion is formed along each pressing portion 15. Thus, the operation of approaching the switch 13 of each pressing unit 15 is assisted.

  The character input key 9 has a support portion 17 that is provided substantially perpendicular to the operation portion 14 and supports the operation portion 14. At the end of the support portion 17, an insertion portion 18 that is fitted into the insertion hole 12 of the base 6 in order to support the operation portion 14 with respect to the base 6 is formed so as to protrude in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. When the fitting portion 18 is fitted into the base 6, the upper end of the fitting portion 18 is locked to the inner edge of the inlet portion of the fitting hole 12.

  In addition, a slit 19 is formed at the distal end of the fitting portion 18 by partially cutting away the substantially central portion of the fitting portion 18 along the fitting direction with respect to the base 6. It is designed to assist expansion and contraction in a direction perpendicular to the direction.

  The operation unit 14, the support unit 17, and the fitting unit 18 are integrally formed to constitute a character input key 9, and the character input key 9 is formed of an elastic deformable material such as synthetic rubber, for example.

  Next, the operation of the mobile phone 1 in this embodiment will be described.

  When inputting characters, the pressing unit 15 on which desired characters are displayed is sequentially pressed by the user. The vicinity of the pressed portion 15 that has been pressed is elastically deformed, and distortion due to this deformation is absorbed by the gap in the cut portion 16, and the vicinity of the pressed portion 15 is further deformed, whereby the pressed portion 15 is on the base 6. In proximity to the switch 13, the switch 13 is finally pressed by the pressing portion 15. Then, an electrical signal related to a predetermined character is transmitted from the switch 13 to the control device, and a character desired by the user is input.

  Therefore, when the user inputs “phone”, for example, in the kana mode, the portion where “D” in the operation unit 14 is written once, the portion where “E” is written once, “ Press the part with “N” once, the part with “W” once, and the part with “A” once to enter the kana character “Denwa” by entering Roman characters Then, the selection button 10 may be operated to select and input “phone” in Chinese characters.

  Further, when the mobile phone 1 is manufactured, the character input key 9 in which the operation part 14, the support part 17, and the fitting part 18 are integrally formed is arranged at a predetermined position of the base 6, and the fitting part 18. Is inserted into the insertion hole 12. At this time, the slit 19 of the fitting portion 18 is closed, and the fitting portion 18 is easily fitted into the fitting hole 12. Thereafter, the slit 19 opens in the insertion hole 12, and the end of the insertion part 18 on the operation part 14 side is locked to the inner edge of the inlet part of the insertion hole 12.

  As described above, according to the cellular phone 1 according to the present embodiment, when the user selects and presses the pressing unit 15 that is in charge of the desired character, the pressing unit 15 is deformed and the corresponding switch 13 is pressed so Therefore, it is possible to prevent bothersomeness and input errors caused by repeatedly hitting one character input key 9 when inputting characters.

  At this time, since the close-up operation of the pressing unit 15 with respect to the switch 13 is assisted by the cutting unit 16 provided in the vicinity of the pressing unit 15, a desired character can be input more reliably.

  Further, at the time of manufacture, the operating portion 14 can be supported by the base 6 only by fitting the fitting portion 18 integrally formed with the operating portion 14 to the base 6, and the fitting portion 18 is elastically deformed. Therefore, it can be easily manufactured at a low cost with a simple configuration.

  Furthermore, since the slit 19 is provided in the front-end | tip part of the fitting part 18, at the time of manufacture, the fitting part 18 can be more easily fitted in the base | substrate 6, and the press part 15 can be supported with respect to the base | substrate 6. In addition, it is possible to more reliably prevent the character input key 9 from falling off after being fitted.

  In the present embodiment, the cut portion 16 is formed on the surface on the base side, but may be provided on a surface facing the surface on the base side. In this case, the cut portion 16 may be formed by simply making a cut without forming a triangular cross section. Even in such a case, when the user presses the pressing portion 15, the cut of the cut portion 16 is opened, and the proximity operation of the pressing portion 15 with respect to the switch 13 is assisted. Moreover, you may make it provide the notch | incision part 16 in both the surface by the side of a base | substrate, and its opposing surface. If the character input key 9 is formed of a material having an elastic deformation rate that allows the pressing portion 15 to press the switch 13 by the pressing force of the finger, the cut portion 16 may not be provided.

  In this embodiment, Roman characters are input using alphabets, but kana may be input. In this case, since the kana characters have more characters than the alphabet, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a pressing portion 15 is provided at each of the four end portions of one character input key 9, and one character is provided for each of the four pressing portions 15. It is good to make Kana characters in charge.

It is the front view which showed the structure of one Embodiment of the mobile telephone to which the portable terminal which concerns on this invention was applied. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the character input key with which the mobile telephone of FIG. 1 was equipped. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of allocation of the kana character in the character input key with which the mobile telephone of FIG. 1 was equipped.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cellular phone 5 Input part 6 Base 9 Character input key 12 Insertion hole 13 Switch 14 Operation part 15 Press part 16 Notch part 18 Insertion part 19 Slit

Claims (2)

A portable terminal having a character input key for inputting characters,
The character input key is
An operation unit to be operated by the user;
A plurality of pressing portions that are formed at an end of the operation portion and selectively press a switch for inputting characters provided on a base;
A fitting portion that is fitted to the base to support the operation portion on the base ;
The side surface of the operation portion, in the vicinity of the pressing portion, and having a substantially cross-sectional triangular shape and a cut portion formed to expand in the base side direction, and
A portable terminal formed of an elastically deformable material. The distal end portion of the fitting portion, the portable terminal according to claim 1, characterized that you have a slit for aiding the expansion and contraction in the direction perpendicular to the fitting direction of the fitting portion.

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