JPH11355413A - Portable communication device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely avoid pressing down a key mistakenly by detecting how a receiver is used and generating a signal that urges the lighting of a light. SOLUTION: A receiving action detecting part 22 grounds at least one of two conductive plates, connects the other to one input of a comparator, also is connected to a power supply through blocking resistance, divides power supply with resistance value between the conductive plates and resistance value of the blocking resistance, compares the partial pressure voltage with reference voltage of the other input of the comparator and decides the logic of a detection signal. And, because a receiver 14 is separated from an ear when a controlling part 20 decides that it is not a receiving action in a speech communication mode, it is decided that a light is turned on and if it is not light lighting, a dummy key event is generated to urge to execute a light lighting program.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a PHS (personal
More specifically, the present invention relates to a portable communication device such as a handy-phone system, a mobile phone, or a handy transceiver. More specifically, it is powered by a battery and can illuminate a display panel, a key switch, and the like so that it can be used even in darkness. The present invention relates to such a portable communication device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A portable communication device such as a PHS, a mobile phone, or a handy transceiver is excellent in that it is convenient to carry and can be used anywhere and at any time.
On the other hand, display panels, key switches, and the like (hereinafter, referred to as operation units and the like) are considerably small, and in particular, operations in darkness are inconvenient.

FIG. 6 is an external view of a portable telephone showing one example thereof. The mobile phone 1 is provided with several key switches 5, a speaker (receiver) 6 and a microphone (transmitter) 7 along with a display unit 4 such as a liquid crystal on a front surface of a case 3 having an antenna 2 projecting upward. It is laid out under the original structure. The key switch 5 of the mobile phone 1 generally includes on-hook and off-hook keys,
, Key keys such as asterisk and sharp, a power key, and other function keys. The key switch 5 is a generic name for convenience.

In the portable telephone 1, when making a call, the number key is pressed to display the telephone number of the other party on the display section 4, and the on-hook key is pressed to form a line. When a call is received, an on-hook key is pressed, and then a call is made to the other party using the speaker 6 and the microphone 7. By the way, when such a procedure is performed in the dark, it is inevitable to press the key switch 5 incorrectly. Therefore, when any one of the key switches 5 is pressed, the display unit 4 and the key switch 5 are illuminated for a predetermined time. Is being done.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the operation, which is executed in response to an event that occurs when any one of the key switches 5 is pressed (hereinafter, referred to as a key event). That is, when a key event occurs (S1), first, the lights of the display unit 4 and the key switch 5 are turned on (S2), and then the elapsed time from the lighting of the light exceeds the set time (generally about several tens of seconds). Sometimes (S3) the light is turned off (S4). Here, the light includes, for example, a backlight of a liquid crystal, an edge light of a transparent panel provided on the front surface of the display unit 4, a light emitting panel provided below the key switch 5, and the like.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the light is turned on in response to a key event, the light remains off until the first key operation. Even if you need to operate a key during a call, the key event occurs only after you press that key. There is a problem that a mistake in pushing is inevitable. Some mobile phones have a cover called a flap. Some mobile phones turn on a light in response to an open event of the cover, but the cover is opened during a call. Therefore, in the case of the above example (during a call in the dark ...), the cover open event does not occur naturally, and there is a similar problem.

Accordingly, the present invention focuses on a specific action (remove the communication device body from the ear) when a key operation is required during a call in the dark, detects the action, and turns on the light. By generating an event, an object of the present invention is to reliably avoid a key press error in the above-described example (during a call in darkness ...).

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a portable communication device having a receiver, a display unit, and an operation unit which are used by being pressed against or brought close to an ear of a human body. In a portable communication device configured to turn on a light provided on the display unit or the operation unit, a state detecting unit for detecting a use state of the handset, and the lighting of the light based on a detection result of the state detecting unit And a signal generating means for generating a signal for prompting the user.

The state detecting means may have any one of the following configurations. (1) The touch switch includes at least two conductive plates. (2) A light emitting element and a light receiving element are included, and the optical axis between these elements is interrupted by a human body during a call or a member that follows the movement of the human body. (3) The use state of the receiver is detected based on the level of the loud sound from the receiver. (4) The use state of the handset is detected based on the output of a temperature sensor provided near the handset.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, taking a mobile phone as an example. FIG.
1 is a schematic block diagram of a mobile phone. The external view of the mobile phone is that referred to in the description of the prior art (FIG. 6).
Shall be diverted. In FIG. 1, 10 is a mobile phone, 11 is an antenna (corresponding to reference numeral 2 in FIG. 6), 12 is a high-frequency unit, 13 is a transmitting / receiving unit, and 14 is a receiver (reference numeral 6 in FIG. 6).
, 15 is a transmitter (corresponding to reference numeral 7 in FIG. 6), 16
Is a display unit (corresponding to reference numeral 4 in FIG. 6), 17 is a light for the display unit (hereinafter, display unit light), 18 is an operation unit (corresponding to reference numeral 5 in FIG. 6), and 19 is a light for the operation unit ( Hereinafter, an operation unit light), 20 is a control unit, 21 is a battery, and 22 is a "reception action detection unit" which is one of the specific elements indispensable to the present embodiment.

The function of each section will be described in brief. An antenna 11 receives a radio wave received from a nearby base station or emits a radio wave transmitted to the base station.
Converts high-frequency reception radio waves to low-frequency reception signals and transmission signals to high-frequency transmission radio waves,
The transmission / reception unit 13 encodes a transmission signal and decodes a reception signal in accordance with a predetermined telephone protocol. The reception unit 14 reproduces the reception signal into an audible sound.
Reference numeral 5 denotes a device for converting voice into a transmission signal, a display unit 16 displays various information necessary for telephone operation (telephone number, abbreviated number, registered name of the destination, system setting display, etc.), a display unit light 17 illuminates the display unit 16, the operation unit 1
8 includes the key switch 5 of FIG.
9 illuminates the operation unit 18, the control unit 20 executes various programs necessary for centrally controlling the operation of the telephone, and particularly executes the "light lighting program" in FIG. 7 and the "pseudo key event generation program" described later. The battery 21 supplies power to each part of the telephone. The display unit light 17 and the operation unit light 19 may be shared.

Here, an example of a specific configuration of the receiving action detecting section 22, which is one of the specific elements indispensable to the present embodiment, will be described. In FIG. 2, the receiving action detecting unit 22 is configured to detect one of the at least two conductive plates 30 and 31 (the conductive plate 3 in the drawing).
1) is grounded, and the other (conductive plate 30 in the figure) is connected to one input (-input in the figure) of a comparator 32 and is connected to a power supply Vc via a blocking resistor 33. The power supply Vc (Vc> 0 V) is divided by the resistance value Rp between 30 and 31 and the resistance value (R33) of the blocking resistor 33, and the divided voltage Vd is input to the other input of the comparator 32 (+ input in the figure). , The detection signal Vo
The logic is decided.

In such a configuration, if Rp is infinite, Vd = Vc, and if Vr <Vc, then:
Although Vo becomes 0 logic (low level), assuming that Rp is equivalent to the skin resistance of the human body (about several hundred ohms), Vd is clearly lower than Vc, and if Vr is set appropriately, Vo will be obtained. Becomes 1 logic (high level).

For this reason, the conductive plates 30, 31 are slightly separated from each other in the exposed state, for example, near the handset 14, so that the conductive plates 30, 31 can be used during a call.
1 touches the ear of the caller and touches the short-circuit state (Vo =
1 logic) can be generated. On the other hand, when a specific key operation is required during a call, a specific action, that is, when the user removes his / her ear from the communication device itself, R
Since p becomes equivalent to infinity and Vo can be inverted from 1 logic to 0 logic, the action can be detected by monitoring the logic inversion of Vo. Therefore, the configuration of FIG. 2 including the conductive plates 30 and 31 embodies the state detecting means described in the gist of the present invention.

The positions of the conductive plates 30 and 31 are not limited to the above examples. For example, the conductive plate 30 may be arranged in an exposed state near the handset 14 so as to touch the ear, and the conductive plate 31 may be arranged at an appropriate position on the case of the mobile phone 1 so as to touch the hand. A similar effect can be obtained by using the human body resistance between the ear and the hand. However, this example cannot be said to be the best mode because there is a drawback that the effect cannot be obtained when the caller wears gloves.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, a description will be given of a "pseudo-key event generation program" which is another requirement indispensable to the present embodiment. Note that this program is executed by the control unit 20 as software, and the hardware of the control unit 20 (such as a CPU and a memory)
Since the function is realized only by an organic combination with the control unit 20, the control unit 20 which loads and executes the above program
Is an embodiment of the signal generating means described in the gist of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, the pseudo key event generation program is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals. When the program is started, first, it is determined whether or not the communication mode is set (S10). The determination of the call mode can be made based on, for example, the operating states of the transmitting / receiving unit 13 and the high-frequency unit 12. If the call mode is determined,
It is determined whether or not it is a receiving action (S11). This determination is made based on the signal Vo of FIG. 2. When Vo is 0 logic, it is determined that the receiving action is the receiving action (YES in S11), and when Vo is 0 logic, it is determined that the receiving action is not the receiving action (S11). NO).

Here, when it is determined that the receiving action is not the receiving action in the talking mode, as is clear from the above description, it is in a state in which the ear is removed from the receiver 14. In this case, the light is turned on. (S12), and if the light is not turned on, a pseudo key event is generated (S13), the execution of the light turning on program of FIG. 7 is urged, and the pseudo key event generating program is terminated. become.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the receiver is removed from the receiver 14 during a call, a pseudo key event is generated to prompt the execution of the light lighting program shown in FIG. Even if a key operation is required during a call in the dark, the light can be turned on before the key is pressed, and a particularly advantageous effect that a key press mistake can be avoided reliably can be obtained. In addition, when this event is generated and the light lighting program is executed, the light may be turned off by further putting the handset on the ear (or approaching) while the light is turned on.

In the above example, the state detecting means for detecting the use state of the receiver 14 is realized by a so-called touch switch system, but the present invention is not limited to this. In short, it is only necessary to be able to detect that the ear has been removed from the receiver 14 during a call, and a method such as a mechanical method, an optical method, or detection of a wraparound of an audio signal can be used.

<Example of Optical Technique> In FIG. 4, reference numeral 40 denotes a case of a portable telephone, and reference numeral 41 denotes a substantially V-shaped groove formed near the receiver of the case 40. A light-emitting element 43 is provided on one of the inclined walls 42 of the groove 41, and the other inclined wall 4 is provided on the other inclined wall 42.
Light-receiving elements 45 are embedded in each of the light-emitting elements 4, and when any object 46 approaches the groove 41, light 47 from the light-emitting element 43 is irregularly reflected on the surface of the object 46, and all of the reflected light 48 Alternatively, a part is made to enter the light receiving element 45.

Here, assuming that the object 46 is the ear of the caller, the whole or a part of the reflected light 48 is received during the call.
However, if the ear is removed from the receiver 14 during a call, the reflected light 48 disappears and the output of the light receiving element 45 becomes substantially equal to zero. It is possible to obtain a signal having the same operation and effect as Vo of the detection unit 22, that is, a signal indicating whether or not it is a receiving action.

<Example of combined use of mechanical method and optical method> FIG.
, 50 is a case of a mobile phone, 51 is a case 5
A first chamber 52, which is formed near the handset 0 and is open to the outside, is a second chamber communicating with the first chamber 51. In the first room 51,
A button 53 protruding to the outside of the case 50 is mounted so as to be movable in the left-right direction of the drawing. The button 53 is urged by a spring 54 in the left direction of the drawing, that is, outward of the case 50. A plate 53b (corresponding to a member that follows the movement of the human body) attached to the base portion 53a extends in the direction of the second chamber 52, and resists the urging force of the spring 54, as shown in FIG. Button 5
3, the plate 53b enters the inside of the second chamber 52, and the light emitting element 55 and the light receiving element 56 provided in the second chamber 52 are provided.
The optical axis 57 is cut off.

Here, assuming that the pressing force of the button 53 is the force of the ear of the caller pressed against the receiver, the button 53 is pressed during the call, and the optical axis 57 between the light emitting element 55 and the light receiving element 56 is moved. On the other hand, if the ear is removed from the handset 14 during a call, the pressing force is lost and the button 53 returns, and the optical axis 57 between the light emitting element 55 and the light receiving element 56 is not interrupted. From the output of 56, it is possible to obtain a signal having the same operation and effect as Vo of the receiving action detecting section 22, that is, a signal indicating whether or not the receiving action is performed. In the example of FIG. 5, a mechanical switch (such as a microswitch) may be provided instead of the light receiving / emitting elements 55 and 56.

<Example of Method of Detecting Sneaking of Voice Signal> Although not shown, a loud sound from a receiver of a portable telephone is picked up by a transmitter (or a microphone arranged near the receiver), and its volume level (wraparound) is picked up. Based on the sound volume level, it is also possible to obtain a signal having the same operation and effect as Vo of the above-mentioned receiving action detecting unit 22. This is because the level when the earpiece is removed from the receiver becomes considerably higher than the wraparound volume level when the earpiece is closed by the earpiece.

<Example of Other Techniques> Further, a temperature sensor is provided near the receiver of the portable telephone, and the same action and effect as Vo of the above-mentioned receiving action detecting unit 22 are obtained from the temperature change of this temperature sensor. It is also possible to get a signal. However, considering the responsiveness of the temperature sensor, it is hard to say that it is possible to immediately detect that the earpiece has been removed from the receiver, and this is not the best example in this respect.

[0027]

According to the present invention, there is provided a portable communication device having a handset and a display unit and an operation unit which are used by being pressed against or brought close to the ear of a human body, wherein the display unit is provided at least in response to a key operation. In a portable communication device configured to turn on a light provided in a unit or an operation unit, state detection means for detecting a use state of the handset, and prompting lighting of the light based on a detection result of the state detection means Signal generation means for generating a signal, so that if the receiver is removed from the handset during a call, a signal prompting to turn on the light can be generated immediately.For example, it is necessary to perform some key operation during a call in the dark. Even if you are pressed, you can turn on the light before pressing the key. Therefore, a particularly advantageous effect is obtained in that mistakes in key pressing can be reliably avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a reception action detection unit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a pseudo key event generation program.

FIG. 4 is another configuration diagram of the receiving action detecting unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing still another configuration of the receiving action detecting unit.

FIG. 6 is an external view of a mobile phone.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a light lighting program.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 mobile phone (portable communication device) 14 receiver 16 display unit 17, 19 light 18 operation unit 20 control unit (signal generation unit) 22 reception action detection unit (state detection unit) 30, 31 conductive plate 43, 55 light emitting element 45 , 56 light receiving element 53b plate (member)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A portable communication device provided with a receiver and a display unit and an operation unit which are used by being pressed against or brought close to an ear of a human body, and provided on the display unit and the operation unit at least in response to a key operation. A portable communication device adapted to turn on the received light, a state detecting means for detecting a use state of the handset, and a signal generation for generating a signal for urging the light to be turned on based on a detection result of the state detecting means. A portable communication device comprising: means. 2. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein said state detecting means comprises a touch switch including at least two conductive plates. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the state detecting means includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and the optical axis between the two elements is interrupted by a human body during a call or a member following the movement of the human body. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein 4. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein said state detecting means detects a use state of the handset based on a level of a loud sound from the handset. 5. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein said state detecting means detects a use state of the handset based on an output of a temperature sensor provided near the handset. .