JPH11119859A - Information terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operability of an information terminal device by constituting the device of a 1st cabinet, a 2nd cabinet, which is connected to a longer side of the 1st cabinet via a hinge in an open/close enable way, and a 3rd cabinet, which is connected to a shorter side of the 1st side set against the rectangular direction of the hinge via a hinge openably and closably. SOLUTION: A hinge 2 is prepared on a shorter side L2 formed between the 2nd and 3rd cabinets 20 and 30, and both cabinets 20 and 30 are connected to each other via the hinge 2. The cabinet 20 has a window 23. Meanwhile, a hinge 1 is prepared on a longer side L1 formed between a 1st cabinet and the cabinet 20, and these two cabinets are connected to each other via the hinge 1. Both hinges 1 and 2 placed rectangular to each other. Thus, an information terminal device 100 can be used in horizontally and vertically long sizes with use of a PDA and a telephone respectively. As a result, the operability of the device 100 is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information terminal device, and more particularly to a portable information terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, personal digital assistants (PDAs) have been commercialized as personal digital assistants for individuals. A PDA is a device in which home appliances and computers are integrated by integrating digital information with sound and images in addition to text information.

At present, the development of wireless communication infrastructure is progressing due to the spread of mobile phones and PHS, and with this, the development and commercialization of high-performance, low-cost PDAs using wireless communication services are increasingly expected. Have been.

FIG. 8 is an external view showing a conventional portable information terminal device with a telephone function. The external appearance of a portable information terminal device 200 with a telephone function having a folding structure is shown. In the portable information terminal device 200, a cabinet 210 and a cabinet 220 are connected by a hinge 230 and have a folding structure.

[0005] The cabinet 210 has a receiving section 211 for receiving voice and a display section 2 for displaying images and characters.
12 are provided. In the cabinet 220,
A transmission unit 221 for transmitting voice and an operation unit 222 including buttons and the like are provided.

As described above, the portable information terminal device 200
Because it has a folding structure by the hinge 230,
Transmitter 221 and receiver 2 considering the distance between human mouth and ear
11 has a vertically long structure that secures a distance between them, which facilitates voice communication.

FIG. 9 is an external view showing a conventional portable information terminal device with a telephone function. The external appearance of a portable information terminal device 300 with a telephone function that is not a folded structure is shown.
The portable information terminal device 300 has one cabinet 310.
A receiving unit 311 for receiving a voice, a transmitting unit 312 for transmitting a voice, and a display unit 3 for displaying images, characters, and the like.
13 and an operation unit 314 including buttons and the like.

As described above, the portable information terminal device 300
By increasing the width of the display unit 313, the screen is easy to see.

[0009]

However, in the conventional portable information terminal device 200 as described above, the cabinet 21
By reducing the width of 0, there is a problem that an image displayed on the display unit 212 (usually a 640 × 480 VGA or a 4: 3 horizontal image is large) becomes relatively small.

[0010] In this case, even when the portable information terminal device 200 is viewed sideways, the time when a voice call is made by telephone and the time when P
When viewing an image as a DA, the personal digital assistant 200
It was inconvenient because I had to rotate each time.

Further, the portable information terminal device 30 as described above
In the case of 0, there is a problem that it is difficult to use the portable information terminal device 300 when making a voice call by telephone because the width of the portable information terminal device 300 is long.

In this case, assuming that the width of the display unit 313 is kept as it is, the portable information terminal device 300 has a vertically long structure, and the transmitting unit 312 and the receiving unit 311 are installed vertically.
Since the projection area of the portable information terminal device 300 itself becomes large, it is impossible to reduce the size.

Further, the appearance of the portable information terminal device 200 and the portable information terminal device 300 does not change when the device is used as a telephone or when the device is used as a PDA. There was a problem that it was difficult to use intuitively.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information terminal device with improved operability.

[0015]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in a portable information terminal device, a first cabinet which is a main body and a first cabinet is provided on a long side of the first cabinet. A second cabinet openably and closably connected with a hinge, and a third cabinet openably and closably connected with a second hinge to a short side of the second cabinet with respect to a direction perpendicular to the first hinge; An information terminal device characterized by having:

In such an information terminal device, since the first hinge is provided on the long side of the first cabinet which is the main body and the second cabinet is connected, the functions provided in the main body are used. If so, open the first hinge. In addition, the second cabinet is connected to the third cabinet by providing the second hinge on the short side of the second cabinet with respect to the direction perpendicular to the first hinge.
The second hinge is opened when the function provided for the cabinet is used.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the information terminal device of the present invention. This shows a state where the hinge is closed. 2 is a view of FIG. 1 viewed from the X direction, FIG. 3 is a view of FIG. 1 viewed from the Y direction, and FIG. 4 is a view of FIG. 1 viewed from the Z direction.

A hinge 2 serving as a second hinge is provided on the short side L2 of the second cabinet (hereinafter, referred to as cabinet 20) and the third cabinet (hereinafter, referred to as cabinet 30). The cabinet 20 and the cabinet 30 are connected via the hinge 2. The cabinet 20 is provided with a window 23 described later.

A first cabinet (hereinafter referred to as cabinet 10), a cabinet 20, and a long side L
1 is provided with a hinge 1 which is a first hinge. The cabinet 10 and the cabinet 20 are connected via the hinge 1.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state where the hinge 1 is opened. A display unit 11 of the PDA is provided on the cabinet 10 and a PDA.
And an operation unit 12 of the above. The user can use the display unit 11 as a horizontally long display for convenience when viewing an image such as a still image. The PDA can be operated by touching the operation unit 12 and the display unit 11.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state where the hinge 2 is opened. The cabinet 20 and the cabinet 30 are provided with various telephone control units having a telephone function. The cabinet 20 includes a telephone operating unit 22 and a transmitting unit 2 for transmitting voice.
1 is provided. The cabinet 30 is provided with a receiver 31 for receiving a voice.

Here, the user operates the display unit 1 through the window 23.
Phone operation unit 2 while looking at the phone number displayed in 1
2. A telephone can be used by using the transmitting unit 21 and the receiving unit 31. At this time, the distance between the transmitting unit 21 and the receiving unit 31 is determined in consideration of the distance between the mouth and the ear of the person.

As described above, the hinge 1 and the hinge 2 are arranged at right angles to each other. Therefore, when the PDA is used, the information terminal device 100 can be used horizontally, and when the telephone is used, the information terminal device 100 can be used vertically, so that operability can be improved.

Further, with the hinge 2 closed, the receiver 3
Another window may be provided in the portion of the cabinet 20 where the earpiece 31 hits in order to allow the user to hear the sound emitted from 1. Next, the operation of the present invention will be described using a flowchart. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the information terminal device 100 of the present invention. [S1] If the hinge 1 has been opened, go to step S2, otherwise go to step S5. [S2] The opening of the hinge 2 is prohibited. [S3] Run the PDA application software. PDA application software includes software related to data communication. [S4] If the hinge 1 is closed, return to step S1,
If not, step S4 is looped. [S5] If the hinge 2 has been opened, the operation proceeds to step S6, and if not, the operation proceeds to step S1. [S6] The opening of the hinge 1 is prohibited. [S7] Run the telephone application software. Telephone application software is mainly software related to voice calls. [S8] If the hinge 2 is closed, return to step S1,
If not, step S8 is looped.

If it is detected that one of the hinges is open and the other hinge is prohibited from being opened,
Due to mechanical locking. As explained above,
The information terminal device 100 of the present invention has a configuration in which the hinge 1 is provided on the cabinet 10 and the cabinet 20, the hinge 2 is provided at a position perpendicular to the hinge 1, and the hinge 2 is provided on the cabinet 20 and the cabinet 30.

Thus, when used as a PDA, the horizontally long display unit 11 can be used for convenient viewing of an image such as a still image. In addition, when used as a telephone, a vertical structure is ensured in which the distance between the transmitting unit 21 and the receiving unit 31 is ensured in consideration of the distance between the mouth and the ear of a person, so that voice communication is facilitated.

Further, with such a structure, the projected area of the information terminal device 100 in a folded state can be reduced. On the other hand, when the information terminal device 100 is opened vertically, the PD
The software of A operates, and when opened horizontally, the software of the telephone operates, so that each function can be used with very simple operation.

When used as a PDA, the cabinet 30 covers the window 23, the telephone operation unit 22, and the transmission unit 21 on the cabinet 20, so that the external appearance is improved.

Further, the expression of the information terminal device 100 changes depending on whether it is used as a PDA or a telephone. In other words, a change occurs in the appearance, so that it becomes easy to use instinctively.

[0030]

As described above, the information terminal device of the present invention has a first cabinet as a main body and a second cabinet connected to the long side of the first cabinet by the first hinge so as to be opened and closed. And a third cabinet connected to the short side of the second cabinet with respect to the direction perpendicular to the first hinge so as to be opened and closed by the second hinge. Accordingly, the function of the first cabinet, which is the main body, and the functions of the second cabinet and the third cabinet are easy to use with each other, and operability can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an information terminal device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of FIG. 1 viewed from an X direction.

FIG. 3 is a view of FIG. 1 viewed from a Y direction.

FIG. 4 is a view of FIG. 1 as viewed from a Z direction.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state where a hinge is opened.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state where a hinge is opened.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the information terminal device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an external view showing a conventional portable information terminal device with a telephone function.

FIG. 9 is an external view showing a conventional portable information terminal device with a telephone function.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... hinge, 2 ... hinge, 20 ... cabinet,
23 ... window, 30 ... cabinet, 100 ... information terminal device, L1 ... long side, L2 ... short side.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A portable information terminal device, comprising: a first cabinet that is a main body; a second cabinet that is openably and closably coupled to a long side of the first cabinet with a first hinge; An information terminal device, comprising: a third cabinet connected to a short side of the second cabinet with respect to a direction perpendicular to the first hinge by a second hinge so as to be opened and closed. 2. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein, when one of the first hinge and the second hinge is opened, the other is locked. 3. The first cabinet includes an operation unit,
And a display unit.
Information terminal device as described in the above. 4. The second cabinet is provided with a window through which the display unit can be seen when the first hinge is closed and the second hinge is open. The information terminal device according to claim 3. 5. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein a telephone control unit for operating a telephone function is installed in each of the second cabinet and the third cabinet. 6. The second cabinet and the third cabinet are characterized in that a transmitting section and a receiving section are respectively installed at positions in consideration of a distance between a human mouth and an ear. The information terminal device according to claim 5, wherein 7. Opening the second hinge runs application software for operating the telephone function,
The information terminal device according to claim 5, wherein when the first hinge is opened, application software other than the telephone function operates. 8. The information terminal device according to claim 6, wherein the second cabinet is provided with a window at a portion corresponding to the earpiece.