JPH04307842A - Portable radio equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize the portable radio equipment which copes flexibly with various services. CONSTITUTION:An expansion unit 3 consists of an external circuit 3a, an operation button 31 connecting to the external circuit 3a, plural operation display sheets 33, and a coupling means 30 coupling the external circuit 3a and the main body circuit electrically. Then a mount means able to attach/detach the expansion unit 3 to/from the device main body 1 optionally is provided and the main body circuit and the external circuit 3a are connected by coupling means 30, 18 when the expansion unit 3 is fitted.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to portable radio equipment such as radio telephones used in cellular or other radio telephone systems.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the number of users of portable wireless devices has rapidly increased due to the expansion of cellular telephone service areas.

[0003] A conventional portable radio device will be explained below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of a mobile phone device, which is a conventional mobile radio device. In FIG. 10, 1 is a device main body, and 2 is a storage battery unit equipped with a storage battery 20 (not shown in FIG. 10) inside. It can be attached to main body 1. The attached storage battery unit 2 is fixed by a spring so as not to fall out of the device main body 1 by a locking claw 11 configured to protrude outside the device main body 1. The lock claw 11 can be retracted by a knob (not shown) provided at the bottom of the device main body 1, and the storage battery unit 2 can be arbitrarily inserted into the device main body 1.
It can be removed more easily. 22 is an electrode electrically connected to the storage battery 20 in the storage battery unit 2. By attaching the storage battery unit 2 to the device main body 1, the electrode 2
Reference numeral 2 denotes an electrode 1 provided on the device main body 1 facing the electrode 22.
2 (not shown in FIG. 10), and the storage battery in the storage battery unit 2 is electrically connected to the main circuit to supply power. 13 is an operation button provided on the surface of the device main body 1;
Reference numeral 4 indicates a display unit using a liquid crystal panel for displaying various conditions; 15 indicates an antenna that can be arbitrarily stored and pulled out within the device main body 1; 16 indicates a microphone for transmitting speech provided within the device main body 1; and 17 is a speaker for receiving calls provided in the main body 1 of the device.

In the conventional portable wireless device as described above, the storage battery unit 2 is attached to the device main body 1, and the antenna 15 is connected to the storage battery unit 2.
Carry the device stored in the device body 1, pull out the antenna 15 as necessary, check the current field strength and charging status of the storage battery unit 2 on the display 14, and press the operation button. Dial at 13 to make a call. The information entered by dialing is also displayed on the display unit 14 and can be confirmed. After going off-hook, the called party speaks using the microphone 16 and speaker 17.

[0005] When an incoming call is received, the operator processes the call using the operation button 13, connects the circuit, and communicates with the caller.

[0006]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, although the above-mentioned conventional portable wireless devices have various functions, they have the problem that they only have the functions they currently have and lack future expandability. had. In addition, in recent years, as technology advances, portable wireless devices have become smaller and smaller, and the area that can be occupied by the operating section has been reduced, making it necessary to reduce the number of buttons. For this reason, measures have been taken to control the execution of a desired function by a combination of button operations, which has created a problem in that the operator must memorize complicated operating methods.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable radio device that has flexible expandability and can also expand its operating section as required.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, the present invention includes a main body having a transmitting and receiving function, an expansion unit having an input operation means for expanding the functions of the main body, and a main body having a function of transmitting and receiving calls. The expansion unit is configured to include a mounting means for attaching and detaching the extension unit to the extension unit, and a coupling means for electrically coupling the main body and the extension unit when the extension unit is installed in the main body.

[0009] The expansion unit also includes a plurality of operation display sheets that can be attached to the input operation means, an identification means for identifying the type of the installed operation display sheets, and an operation display sheet that is displayed at the key position of each operation display sheet. The apparatus may include a storage means storing device operation information corresponding to the operation display sheet, and a detection means for detecting pressed keys on the operation display sheet.

Further, separate displays may be provided on the front and back sides of the operation display sheet, and display identification means may be provided for identification.

[0011] Furthermore, the expansion unit can be provided with a storage means for storing the number of times of use, the time of use, and telephone directory information corresponding to the input operation means.

0012

[Operation] With the above-described configuration, the circuit of the present invention is added to the circuit of the main body, so even if the function of the main body is simple, the overall function can be flexibly adapted to various services. It can be expanded as follows.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of a portable wireless device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1a and 1b are a control section and a wireless section, which are main body circuits, respectively. 3 is an expansion unit, 3a is an external circuit provided separately from the control unit 1a which is the main circuit, and 30 is an electrode that is an electrical connection means of the expansion unit 3 to the circuit of the main body 1 of the device. By attaching the expansion unit 3 to the device main body 1, the electrode 30 comes into contact with a similar electrode 18 provided in the device main body 1, and the control section 1a of the device main body 1
An external circuit 3a in the expansion unit 3 is connected to the external circuit 3a. Reference numeral 31 indicates an operation button which is an input means provided on the expansion unit 3. Furthermore, a semiconductor memory is mounted on the external circuit 3a, and by attaching it to the device main body 1, the memory inside the device main body can be expanded.

Further, FIGS. 2 to 5 are external perspective views of a portable wireless device according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which the expansion unit 3 is not installed and a state in which it is installed. Further, FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the expansion unit 3. In the figure, 1' is a part of the main body of the device which is configured to be foldable, and the opened state is shown in FIG. 2, and the opened state with an extension unit attached is shown in FIG. 4. Further, FIG. 3 shows a folded state without the extension unit 3 attached, and FIG. 5 shows a folded state with the extension unit 3 attached. In the following description, it is assumed that the device 1' is included in the device main body 1.

19 is a guide groove provided in the device main body 1;
Reference numeral 32 denotes a guide rib that is fitted into the guide groove 19 of the device main body 1 provided in the expansion unit 3. 3b is a switch that opens and closes the circuit by pressing the operation button 31.

The operation of the portable wireless device having the above-mentioned components will be explained below.

When the expansion unit 3 is not attached to the main body of the apparatus, the same operation as in the conventional example is possible. Next, insert the guide rib 32 of the expansion unit 3 into the guide groove 19 of the device main body 1.
By attaching the expansion unit 3 to the main body 1 of the apparatus, memory is expanded to the control section 1a of the main body 1 of the apparatus, and operation buttons are added. In this embodiment, two types of expansion units were prepared. The first expansion unit has a built-in memory that automatically registers the number of times the unit has been used, usage time, etc., and a function that allows the built-in memory to register telephone directory information corresponding to each button of the operation button 31. If a company or other company purchases one device body 1 and the expansion unit 3 is not installed, it will not accept input from the operation button 13 and lock the system in a state where communication is not possible. By making initial settings, purchasing the required number of expansion units 3, and distributing them to employees, it becomes possible to manage the usage status of the device for each employee.

Furthermore, by registering separate telephone directory information for each person, it is possible to press the operation button 31 and make a one-touch call to the corresponding party.

[0020] Furthermore, the second expansion unit has a function that allows easy operation of many additional functions built into the portable wireless device. Additional functions added to portable wireless devices are shown in (Table 1).

[0021]

[Table 1]

[0022] Although these functions are realized by control software in the main body of the apparatus, operability is improved by extending a switch for starting the operation to the outside of the main body of the apparatus. The structure of the expansion unit is shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, 3 is the expansion unit 3 in FIG. An operation display sheet 33 is placed above the switch 31 on the expansion unit 3.
put on. The operation display sheets include a one-touch dial sheet as shown in FIG. 8 for realizing a 10-station one-touch dial function, and a function display sheet as shown in FIG. 9 for activating the additional functions in (Table 1) with a single touch. Since there are a plurality of operation display sheets 33, each operation display sheet has an identification notch 35 according to its type in order to detect which operation display sheet is placed on the switch 31, which is identified by a sheet identification section 34. It looks like this.

External circuit 3a built in expansion unit 3
The key reading section stores operation processing information for the key position of each sheet, and obtains the necessary key operation processing information from the information of the sheet identification section 34 and the pressed key position information detected by the key reading section. The operation processing information is output to the main body control section 1a through the expansion card side electrode 30 and the main body side electrode 18 in FIG. 1, and a predetermined operation is performed.

For example, in FIG. 9, when the top left key is pressed while the seat identification unit 34 is able to detect that the one-touch dial seat is on, the external circuit 3a
The external circuit 3a outputs a command for the abbreviated number 1 to the main body control section 1a using the information stored in "The top left key on the one-touch dial sheet is the abbreviated number 1." The section 1a dials the contents corresponding to the abbreviated number 1. In addition, if the top left key is pressed while the seat identification unit 34 is able to detect that the function display sheet is on the seat, the function display sheet stored in the external circuit 3a will be pressed. The external circuit 3a outputs a command to display the cumulative call time to the main body control section 1a, and the main body control section 1a displays the cumulative call time.

[0025] Furthermore, by using two types of operation display sheets on the front and back sides, it is possible to perform as many one-touch operations as there are on one operation display sheet, and if frequently used functions are grouped together, twice as many one-touch operations can be performed. can.

As described above, according to the portable radio device of the embodiment of the present invention, the conventional portable radio device is used as a main body, and two types of expansion units for increasing the functions of the main device are attached and detached from the conventional portable radio device. The expansion unit has a built-in memory that automatically registers the number of times the unit has been used, the time of use, etc., and also registers telephone directory information, making it possible to manage a plurality of units. According to another expansion unit, many functions such as one-touch dialing and cumulative call time display as listed in (Table 1) can be performed by setting a one-touch dialing sheet or a function display sheet.

Although the coupling means of the present invention has been explained using an electric contact in this embodiment, any element such as a photocoupler, a magnetic coupler, etc. can be used as long as it performs the function of signal transmission. It is something.

[0028]

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above embodiments, according to the present invention, functions related to hardware are expanded and necessary operation buttons are expanded at the same time, making it possible to respond flexibly to various services. It is what it is. Cellular mobile radio telephones, which are currently attracting attention, are expected to offer a variety of services in the future as their service area expands, and we provide portable radio equipment that can respond flexibly to these needs. can do.

[0029] Furthermore, in recent years, portable wireless devices have become more and more sophisticated, and some of them have functions that are rarely used, leading to device purchasers purchasing unnecessary functions. However, by providing only the minimum necessary functions to the main unit and providing other functions to the expansion unit,
It becomes possible to lower the price of the device itself.

[0030] Furthermore, the miniaturization of mobile phones has progressed, and
In a situation where more and more functions are being added and operations are becoming more complex, mobile wireless is extremely easy to use as it can provide a visual guide to the functions and activate additional functions with a single touch. equipment can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of a portable wireless device in an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] External perspective view showing the device in an open state without an expansion unit installed

[Figure 3] External perspective view showing the device in a folded state without an expansion unit installed

[Figure 4] External perspective view showing the device in an open state with the expansion unit attached.

[Figure 5] External perspective view showing the device in a folded state with the expansion unit attached.

[Fig. 6] Partial sectional view of the expansion unit of the same embodiment.

[Figure 7]
A perspective view of an expansion unit and an operation display sheet in an embodiment of the present invention

[Figure 8] Schematic diagram of the one-touch dial sheet in the same example

[Figure 9] Schematic diagram of the function display sheet in the same example

[Fig. 10] External perspective view of a conventional portable radio device

[Explanation of symbols]

1,1'　Device body 1a Control section 1b Radio section 3. Expansion unit 3a External circuit 13 Operation button 14 Display section 15 Antenna 16 Microphone 17 Speaker 18 Electrode 19 Guide groove 30 Electrode 31 Operation button 32 Guide rib 33 Operation display sheet 34 Sheet identification section 35 Sheet identification notch

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A main body section having a transmitting and receiving function, an expansion unit section including an input operation means for expanding the functions of the main body, a mounting means for attaching and detaching the expansion unit section to the main body section; A portable radio device comprising a coupling means for electrically coupling the main body circuit and the expansion unit circuit when the expansion unit is attached. 2. The expansion unit includes a plurality of operation display sheets that can be attached to the input operation means, an identification means for identifying the type of the operation display sheets attached to the input operation means, and a plurality of operation display sheets that can be attached to the input operation means. It includes a storage means storing device operation information corresponding to a key position, and a detection means for detecting a pressed key on the operation display sheet, and an operation displayed on the pressed key on the operation display sheet. The portable radio device according to claim 1, wherein the portable radio device is set to a state. 3. The portable radio device according to claim 2, wherein the operation display sheet is provided with separate operation displays on the front and back sides thereof, and further provided with display identification means corresponding to the separate operation displays. 4. The portable wireless device according to claim 1, wherein the expansion unit includes storage means for storing information including the number of times of use, the time of use, and telephone directory information corresponding to the input operation means.