JP4578717B2 - Mobile terminal device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a portable terminal device that is miniaturized, there is a foldable mobile phone in which a display-side casing having a display unit and an operation-side casing having an operation unit are connected to each other so as to be relatively rotatable by a hinge. . In such a foldable mobile phone, the display unit and the operation unit are folded so as to face each other. As a result, during a call, the display side casing is opened with respect to the operation side casing so that the operation unit can be operated, and the distance between the microphone and the speaker disposed at the tip of each casing is set to the user's mouth. It is possible to adopt a form suitable for a call by being separated as far as the ear. On the other hand, at the time of non-calling, the display-side housing is closed with respect to the operation-side housing to reduce the size of the entire telephone, and the display unit can be protected by the operation-side housing so that it is suitable for carrying.
[0003]
In such a cellular phone, since the display unit is covered with the operation-side casing in the folded state, a small sub-display unit that is exposed to the outside in the folded state is provided, and the sub-display unit is provided with the sub-display unit. A foldable mobile phone that can display information such as the radio wave status, the incoming phone number, and the current time has also been realized.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, a foldable mobile phone having a shape in which the main display unit is hidden in such a folded state cannot see information unless the display side case is opened with respect to the operation side case. Further, even if the sub display unit exposed outside the housing is provided, the operation unit is covered with the display side housing, so that the operation cannot be performed and a large amount of information cannot be displayed. Furthermore, in the closed state, the microphone and speaker are placed inside the folded side, so it is not possible to talk, and even when using an earphone microphone that does not require a microphone or speaker on the phone side, the operation unit is inward in the closed state. Therefore, there has been a problem that the housing must be opened in order to enter a telephone number or perform a receiving operation.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems. Even when the display-side housing and the operation-side housing are overlapped with each other, it is possible to input a telephone number, perform a receiving operation, perform a call, etc. An object is to provide a portable terminal device that can be browsed and is highly convenient.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, a mobile terminal device according to the present invention includes an operation-side housing including an operation unit and a display-side housing including a display unit, and the operation unit and the display unit are arranged in the same direction. The operation-side housing and the display-side housing, which are arranged so that the operation-side housing is superimposed on the display-side housing in the thickness direction, are arranged in the thickness direction near the ends of both housings. The display unit includes a main display unit and a sub display unit, and any one of these display units is provided on the operation side casing. When located on the lower side, the other is characterized in that it is exposed .
According to this invention, both housings stacked in the thickness direction so that the operation unit and the display unit face the same direction and the operation-side housing is on the display-side housing can be rotated about the rotation axis. Since the operation unit is exposed when both housings are overlapped and closed, a portable terminal device capable of various operations such as an incoming call operation and a call operation even in the closed state is realized.
Further, according to the present invention, since the operation unit is always exposed and either the main display unit or the sub display unit is exposed, the operation can be performed while viewing the display unit. For example, various operations can be performed while browsing various displayed information, such as a phone book browsing operation, a phone number input / call operation using phone book data, a selection of stored emails, and a text display operation. The operation can be performed.
[0007]
Further , an operation key is provided at the end of the rotating shaft.
According to the present invention, since the operation key is provided at the end of the rotating shaft that occupies a part of the surface of the housing, the functionality of the portable terminal device can be improved without increasing the size of the entire device. In addition, by providing an operation key at the end of the rotating shaft, the operation key is always exposed regardless of whether or not both housings are stacked, so that the operation key of the mobile terminal device can be operated at any time. It becomes.
[0008]
In consideration of the state in which the user holds the operation side casing and operates the operation unit, if the operation key rotates integrally with the operation side casing, the display side casing can be rotated to any position. Even so, the user can operate in the same gripping state. That is, even when the display-side housing is rotated with respect to the operation-side housing, a mobile terminal device that can be operated without changing the mobile terminal device is realized.
On the other hand, if a configuration is adopted in which the operation key rotates integrally with the display-side housing, the vertical direction of the display unit and the vertical direction of the operation key always coincide with each other. Thus, a portable terminal device with a simple configuration is realized, in which it is not necessary to perform control for reversing the upper and lower directions to match the vertical direction of both.
[0010]
Further, it is characterized by comprising switching means for causing either the main display unit or the sub display unit to function according to the rotational positions of the operation side case and the display side case.
According to the present invention, according to the rotation position between the cases, either the main display unit or the sub display unit is displayed, and the unexposed one is not displayed. Therefore, since power consumption in the display portion that is not exposed can be suppressed, a portable terminal device that consumes less power can be provided.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Fig.1 (a) and FIG.2 (a) are the perspective views which show the telephone 100 as one Embodiment of the portable terminal device of this invention. The telephone 100 includes an operation side housing 20 including an operation unit 10 and a display side case 40 including a display unit 30 including a main display unit 31 and a sub display unit 32. Are arranged in the thickness direction so that the operation side housing 20 is positioned on the upper side (the right side in FIG. 1B and FIG. 2B). The rotary shaft 50 is connected to be rotatable. As the display unit 30, a transmissive liquid crystal monitor having a liquid crystal and a backlight, a transflective liquid crystal monitor, a reflective liquid crystal monitor, and the like are employed.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 1A, the operation-side housing 20 has a numeric button 11, a power switch button 12 and a call button 13 on the operation unit 10 on the front, an operation key 60 provided on the end of the rotary shaft 50, A microphone 70 is disposed. As shown in FIG. 3, the main board B is accommodated in the operation side housing 20, and the buttons of the operation unit 10, the operation keys 60, and the microphone 70 are connected to the main board B.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 2A, the display-side housing 40 is provided with a speaker 80, a main display unit 31, and a sub display unit 32 on the front surface. It arrange | positions so that the rotating shaft 50 may be pinched | interposed in the longitudinal direction of the side housing | casing 40. FIG. The main display unit 31 and the sub display unit 32 are liquid crystal display screens, and as shown in FIG. 3, the main display unit 31 and the sub display unit 32 are built in the display-side housing 40 via the main display flexible substrate 42 and the sub display flexible substrate 43, respectively. It is connected to the main board B. The speaker 80 is provided near the end opposite to the end where the rotation shaft 50 is provided.
[0016]
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing details in the vicinity of the rotating shaft 50. The rotating shaft 50 is provided on the display-side casing 40 along the thickness direction of the casing (the vertical direction in the figure), and an operation key 60 is attached to the tip end portion thereof via a jog switch 61. . The operation key 60 and the jog switch 61 are installed so as to rotate integrally with the operation-side casing 20. The jog switch 61 is connected to the main board B via the jog switch flexible board 62, and can input an input operation and a pressing operation of the operation key 60 in each direction to the main board B as electric signals.
[0017]
Further, the display side housing 40 is provided with a cylindrical rib 41 coaxial with the rotary shaft 50, and a bush 51 is fixed to the inner peripheral side of the cylindrical rib 41. A cylindrical member 52 that connects the display-side housing 40 and the operation-side housing 20 is fitted on the inner peripheral side of the bush 51.
[0018]
The cylindrical member 52 is rotatably fitted to the bush 51 and is fixed to the hole 21 of the operation side housing 20. Between the cylindrical member 52 and the bush 51, a ball click mechanism 53 that provides a click feeling at a predetermined rotational position is provided. In addition, between the cylindrical member 52 and the rotation shaft 50, either the main display unit 31 or the sub display unit 32 and the main substrate depending on the rotation position of both members, that is, the rotation position between the operation side casing 20 and the display side casing 40. Switching means S for switching to connect B is provided. This switching means S connects the main display unit 31 to the main board B when both housings are in the open state, that is, in the rotational position shown in FIG. 1, and the sub display unit 32 is in the closed state, that is, in the rotational position shown in FIG. Connect to main board B.
[0019]
In the telephone 100 configured as described above, the operation-side housing 20 and the display-side housing 40 are centered on the rotation shaft 50, and the two housings shown in FIG. It can be rotated to the closed state in which the operation side case 20 is superimposed on the front side of the display side case 40 shown in FIG.
[0020]
In the open state shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the main display unit 31 is exposed and connected to the main board B by the switching means S, while the sub display unit 32 is operated on the operation side housing. The information is hidden on the back side of the body 20 and is not displayed because the connection with the main board B is released by the switching means S, and information on operation of the operation unit 10 and operation keys 60 and information such as a standby screen are displayed on the main display unit 31. Is displayed. In this open state, the telephone set 100 has a microphone 70 and a speaker 80 located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the telephone set 100, and is in a form suitable for a telephone call as far as the distance between the user's ear and mouth. Further, since the main display portion 31 of the large display screen is exposed, such as the telephone number and the name of the other party, the text of the email received or transmitted by the telephone 100, and the image file attached to the email Information can be displayed, and the operation unit 10 and the operation keys 60 can be operated while browsing this information.
[0021]
In the closed state shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the sub display unit 32 is exposed and connected to the main board B by the switching means S, and the display is performed. It is hidden on the back side of the body 20 and is not connected to the main board B by the switching means S so that the display is not performed. 32. In this closed state, the operation-side casing 20 and the display-side casing 40 are overlapped with each other, so that the telephone 100 has a form suitable for carrying, and the sub-display unit 32 with a small display screen is exposed. Operations such as scrolling phone book data 60 and data entry can be performed while confirming on the sub-display unit 32. In addition, since the microphone 70 is arranged on the surface, if a detachable speaker 90 is attached as shown in FIG. 2, a so-called hands-free call is possible.
[0022]
The shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members shown in the embodiment are merely examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In the illustrated example, two states, the closed state in which the operation-side housing and the display-side housing overlap each other and the open state in which the two housings are symmetrically arranged around the rotation axis, have been described. Thus, telephone calls and various operations can be performed at an intermediate position between the open state and the closed state. In the embodiment, the means for switching between the main display unit and the sub display unit is switched according to the physical connection depending on the rotation position between the casings. However, the rotation position is detected. A configuration may be adopted in which detection means is provided, and a detection signal is received from the detection means and electrically controlled and switched.
[0023]
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a display side housing 140 having a display unit 130 is overlapped on the front side of an operation side housing 120 having an operation unit (not shown), and both housings are provided with operation keys 160. Further, the configuration may be such that they are connected via a rotating shaft 150. In this embodiment, since both housings are connected so that the display unit 130 is exposed even in the closed state, the sub display unit is not necessary. In addition, since the operation key 160 is always exposed in the same direction as the display unit 130, the operation menu and the phone book data scroll operation, the incoming call operation or the call operation using the phone book data, the display of the web and e-mail The operation using the operation key 160 such as selection can be performed while checking the display unit 130 even in the closed state.
[0024]
In this embodiment, if the configuration in which the operation key 160 rotates integrally with the display-side casing 140 is adopted, the vertical direction of the display unit 130 and the vertical direction of the operation key 160 always coincide with each other. Accordingly, it is not necessary to perform a control for reversing the vertical direction of the display unit 130 or the operation key 160 so that the vertical directions of both are matched. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, by arranging the speaker 180 in the vicinity of the display unit 130, the display unit 130 can be displayed and audio can be output from the speaker 180 even in the closed state. It becomes possible to appreciate in a closed state.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the mobile terminal device of the first aspect, both the operation unit and the display unit are oriented in the same direction, and the operation side case is overlapped in the thickness direction so that the operation side case is located above the display side case. By connecting the housings so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis, the operation unit is exposed when both housings are overlapped and closed, so various operations such as incoming call operations and outgoing calls can be performed even when they are closed. And a highly convenient portable terminal device is realized.
[0026]
According to the portable terminal device of the second aspect, since the operation key is provided at the end of the rotating shaft that occupies a part of the housing surface, it is not necessary to forcibly reduce the rotating shaft in order to reduce the size of the entire device. A multifunctional operation key can be provided without increasing the overall size, and the function of the mobile terminal device can be improved. In addition, by providing an operation key at the end of the rotating shaft, the operation key is always exposed regardless of whether or not both housings are stacked, so that the operation key of the mobile terminal device can be operated at any time. It becomes.
[0027]
According to the portable terminal device of claim 3, since the operation unit is always exposed and either the main display unit or the sub display unit is exposed, the operation can be performed while viewing the display unit even in the closed state. Become. For example, various operations can be performed while browsing various displayed information, such as a phone book browsing operation, a phone number input / call operation using phone book data, a selection of stored emails, and a text display operation. Operation can be performed, and a highly convenient portable terminal device can be realized.
[0028]
According to the portable terminal device of claim 4, according to the rotation position between the casings, either the main display unit or the sub display unit is displayed, and the unexposed one is displayed. By avoiding this, it is possible to suppress power consumption in the display portion that is not exposed, and thus it is possible to provide a portable terminal device that consumes less power.
[0029]
According to the portable terminal device of claim 5, the two housings stacked in the thickness direction so that the operation unit and the display unit face the same direction and the display-side housing is on the upper side of the operation-side housing are provided with the rotation axis. Since the display unit is exposed in a state where both housings are overlapped and closed, and an operation key is provided at the end of the rotating shaft that occupies a part of the housing surface, the portable terminal Even when the apparatus is closed, the operation keys can be operated while browsing the display unit. Therefore, for example, operations such as scrolling operation menu and phone book data, incoming call operation or call operation using phone book data, web and e-mail display, selection, etc., even if the operation key is closed, the display unit It is possible to realize a highly convenient portable terminal device that can be performed while checking the above.
[0030]
According to the portable terminal device of the sixth aspect, by providing the microphone and the speaker in the portable terminal device described above, a portable terminal device as a telephone for making a call is realized. Therefore, a highly convenient mobile phone that can easily perform a so-called hands-free call while looking at the display screen or a call using an earphone microphone even when the phone is in a closed state is realized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1A and 1B are a perspective view and a side view, respectively, showing a telephone that is an embodiment of a mobile terminal device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view (a) and a side view (b) showing a state where a telephone as a portable terminal device according to the present invention is closed.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the rotation axis of the mobile terminal device of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an intermediate rotational position between an open state and a closed state of the mobile terminal device of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a telephone according to an embodiment in which a display unit is arranged on the upper side.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Operation part 20,120 Operation side housing | casing 30,130 Display part 31 Main display part 32 Sub display part 40,140 Display side housing | casing 50,150 Rotating shaft 60,160 Operation key 70 Microphone 80,180 Speaker

Claims (3)

An operation-side housing including an operation unit and a display-side housing including a display unit, the operation unit and the display unit being directed in the same direction, and the operation-side housing on the display-side housing The operation-side casing and the display-side casing, which are arranged so as to overlap each other in the thickness direction, are rotatable about a rotation axis arranged along the thickness direction in the vicinity of the ends of both casings. Are connected,
The display unit includes a main display unit and a sub display unit,
A portable terminal device characterized in that when one of these display units is located below the operation side casing, the other is exposed.   The portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein an operation key is provided at an end of the rotation shaft.   The portable terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a switching unit that causes either the main display unit or the sub display unit to function according to a rotation position of the operation side casing and the display side casing. apparatus.

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