JP2002044704A - Foldable radio telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a foldable radio telephone capable of enhancing operability and reducing possible errors. SOLUTION: The foldable radio telephone 1 has the main bodies 2 and 3 which are made to open and close by means of a coupling 4. The body 3 is provided with side button switches 5 and has an open/close position detector 14 for detecting 'open' or 'close' of the bodies 2 and 3. When the bodies 2 and 3 are opened or closed while depressing these switches 5, additional functions are provided such as to make a call to a number stored in an internal telephone number storage 15, or to issue an alarm by using the internal sound producing apparatuses 18 and 19, and the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless telephone device, and more particularly to a foldable wireless telephone device such as a portable telephone which can be folded when being carried or not used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Radiotelephone devices such as portable telephones have become smaller and lighter due to advances in communication technology and semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) technology, and have rapidly become popular due to their convenience. In addition, a foldable wireless telephone device that is closed (folded) during a non-call (when carrying or not in use), and opened and operated during a call,
It is well known. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-22789, “Foldable mobile phone, method of setting answering machine service and drive mode,”
Such a foldable wireless telephone device is disclosed in, for example, “Folding Portable Telephone Device” in JP-A-205857. Further, the related art of the present invention includes, for example, a “mobile phone device” in JP-A-8-265407, an “emergency notification device” in JP-A-11-259786, and a “vehicle emergency device” in JP-A-11-68906. Transmitter "and the like.

A foldable wireless telephone device has a detecting means for detecting the open / closed state (open or closed) of the main body. Utilizes the detection signal from this detection means to turn on the backlight of the display unit when the state changes from the closed state to the open state, and disconnects or holds the call when the state changes from the open state to the closed state It is known to perform such control. In general, a foldable wireless telephone device is provided with a plurality of button switches and the like at a position where the buttons can be operated even in a closed state such as a side surface. These switches are generally used to change the receiving volume during a call. In addition, there has been proposed a button used as a button for knowing a state inside a mobile phone when the main body is closed.

[0004]

However, the conventional foldable wireless telephone device has a disadvantage that the operation of opening the main body before making a call is indispensable, and the operation is troublesome. In particular, the operation of opening the main body, together with the subsequent operations of a plurality of buttons, has a drawback that it cannot sufficiently cope with an emergency.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a foldable radio telephone apparatus which improves the operability which is a drawback of the above-mentioned conventional fold radio telephone apparatus.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A foldable wireless telephone device according to the present invention is a foldable wireless telephone device including a main body which can be opened and closed via a connecting portion, and a detecting means for detecting an open / closed state of the main body. And a switch provided on the outer surface of the main body,
A new function is obtained by opening and closing the main body while operating this switch.

According to a preferred embodiment of the foldable radio telephone apparatus of the present invention, the new function described above is a call to a specific telephone number stored in a telephone number storage unit provided therein. An important function is sound generation from a sound generation device provided inside. The switch is a push-operation switch provided on the outer surface of the main body.
Also serves as the receiving volume adjustment switch. A plurality of switches are provided as described above, and different functions are assigned to each switch. Further, the main body is closed during a non-call, and the main body is opened during a call.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The structure and operation of a preferred embodiment of a foldable wireless telephone device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the appearance of a preferred embodiment of a foldable wireless telephone device according to the present invention. Figure 1
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a main body of the foldable wireless telephone device 1 is closed, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the main body is opened.

As is apparent from FIG. 1, a foldable wireless telephone device 1 according to the present invention has a first main body 2 and a second main body 3 which can be opened and closed by a connecting part (hinge part) 4, and the second main body. 3 has a side button switch 5 arranged on the side surface and an antenna 6 provided on the opposite end of the coupling portion 4 of the first main body 2. As shown in FIG. 2, a display unit 7 constituted by a liquid crystal display panel or the like is provided on the inner surface of the first main body 2.
Is arranged. On the inner surface of the second main body 3, a button switch 8 for inputting characters and numerals such as numeric keys is arranged.

In the first embodiment of the foldable radio telephone apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to make a telephone call to a specific telephone number by opening the main bodies 2 and 3 while pressing the side button switch 5. The biggest feature. The side button switch 5 provided on the side surface of the second main body 3 functions as, for example, a reception volume switching (adjustment) switch in a normal state. In the present invention, as will be described later, a button switch for realizing a new (special) function by operating (for example, pressing) in combination with opening and closing of the main bodies 2 and 3 of the foldable wireless telephone device 1 is also provided. used. In this embodiment, the side button switch 5 is provided on the side surface of the second main body 3. However, as long as the main body 2 or 3 can be operated in a closed state, the side button switch 5 is provided at an arbitrary position on the outer surface of the main body 2 or 3. Is also good. The side button switch 5 is preferably of a push operation type, but may be of any form, for example, a slide type, or may be of a combined form of, for example, rotation or slide and press. In the case of this combined form, the volume is adjusted by rotating or sliding operation, and the new functions described above are realized by opening the main bodies 2 and 3 while pressing.

Next, FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the foldable wireless telephone device 1 having the configuration shown in FIGS. The foldable wireless telephone device 1 according to the present invention includes an antenna 6
, A wireless processing unit 11 for encoding / decoding an audio signal, a control unit 12 for controlling the entire folding wireless telephone 1, a folding wireless telephone An open / close detector 14 for detecting the open / closed state of the main bodies 2 and 3; a side button switch press detector for detecting whether or not the side button switch 5 disposed on the side of the second main body 3 is pressed; 13. A telephone number storage unit 15 for storing a telephone number to be transmitted when the main body 2, 3 is opened while pressing the side button switch 5, a receiver 16 for listening to the voice of the other party, and transmitting one's own voice to the other party. Microphone 17 is provided.

The control unit 12 monitors whether the main units 2 and 3 of the foldable wireless telephone device 1 are closed or open based on the open / close detection signals of the main units 2 and 3 received from the open / close detection unit 14. . The open / close detection unit 14 sends an “open” signal to the control unit 12 when the main units 2 and 3 of the foldable wireless telephone device 1 are open, and outputs a “close” signal when the main units 2 and 3 are closed. Send out. The side button switch press detection unit 13 sends an “ON” signal when the side button switch 5 is pressed, and sends an “OFF” signal when it is not pressed. The telephone number storage unit 15 can store an arbitrary number in advance by a user's operation.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the foldable wireless telephone device 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG. 3 and the flowchart of FIG. Control unit 1
2 always monitors the open / close state of the main bodies 2 and 3 of the foldable wireless telephone device 1 based on the open / close detection signal from the open / close detection unit 14 (step S1). Similarly, the "ON" and "OFF" states of the side button switch 5 are constantly monitored by the side button switch pressing detection unit 13 (step S2).

The control section 12 receives the "close" signal from the open / close detection section 14 (step S1: Ye).
s), the side button switch press detection unit 13 outputs “O”
An "N" signal is received (step S2: Yes). Further, when the "close" signal changes to the "open" signal while detecting the "ON" signal (step S3), the stored telephone number is read from the telephone number storage unit 15. Then, control is performed so as to make a call to the telephone number (step S4).

Next, a second embodiment of a foldable radio telephone according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation. The folding radio telephone device is characterized in that, when the main body 2 or 3 is opened while the side button switch 5 is pressed, a sounding device sounds a sound such as an alarm sound.

The appearance of the foldable wireless telephone device according to the present invention is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the wireless unit 10, the audio processing unit 11, the control unit 12, the side button switch 5,
It comprises a side button switch press detection unit 13, an open / close detection unit 14 of the main body 2, 3, a receiver 16, a microphone 17, a tone control unit 18, and a sounder 19. That is, there is no telephone number storage unit 15 and the tone control unit 1 which is a sound generation device
8 and the sounder 19 shown in FIG.
Different from the embodiment. The tone control unit 18 determines the volume and the sound pattern of the sound to be sounded, and causes the sounder 19 to sound.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The control unit 12 receives the “ON” signal from the side button switch press detection unit 13 while receiving the “close” signal from the open / close detection unit 14 (Step S11: Yes) (Step S12).
Further, if the "close" signal changes to the "open" signal while detecting the "ON" signal (step S13: Ye)
s) The tone control unit 18 is controlled to sound an alarm sound. Upon receiving this, the tone control unit 18 sets the volume of the sound to sound (step S14). And
The sounding pattern is set to a pattern indicating a warning sound (step S15), and the sounder 19 sounds (step S1).
6).

According to the second embodiment of the foldable radio telephone apparatus of the present invention, it can be used as a security bell, so that it is not necessary to separately carry a widely used security bell or the like. Security bells need to sound very loud easily. With conventional mobile phones, there was no easy way to make a very loud sound. Also, in the event that such an operation is performed by simply opening the mobile phone or by a very simple operation equivalent thereto, a very loud sound may sound due to a malfunction, which is very inconvenient. It is easy to imagine. However, according to the present invention, although the operation can be performed easily and quickly, the possibility of performing an erroneous operation is extremely small, and there is almost no possibility of generating a very loud sound in an unexpected scene. It is also effective for a user who owns a mobile phone in that it can be shared with a security bell.

Further, as another embodiment of the present invention, when there are a plurality of side button switches, different functions may be assigned to the respective button switches. Also, 1
Instead of pressing one side button switch, a plurality of side button switches may be pressed. Further, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the function is assigned when the foldable wireless telephone device is opened while the side button switch is pressed, but the foldable wireless telephone device is closed while the side button switch is pressed. In this case, a new function may be assigned. Here, the wireless telephone device includes not only a mobile phone but also a PHS (Personal Handy-Phone System), a portable information terminal, and the like.

The configuration and operation of the preferred embodiment of the foldable wireless telephone device according to the present invention have been described above in detail. However, such an embodiment is merely an example of the present invention and does not limit the present invention in any way. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made in accordance with the particular application without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0022]

As will be understood from the above description, according to the foldable radio telephone apparatus of the present invention, the following various remarkable practical effects can be obtained. First, it is possible to extend the operation of the foldable wireless telephone device. Opening and closing the main body of the foldable wireless telephone device is an easy operation compared to the operation of various buttons.
It is possible to improve convenience.

Second, the function can be quickly realized by reducing the number of operation steps required to execute the desired function. A conventional foldable wireless telephone device has a function called “two-touch dialing”. This function can be used for phone numbers registered in advance from 0 to 9 in the phone book.
By simply inputting one digit of the number and depressing the off-hook key, it is possible to make a call to the telephone number registered for that number. Use of this conventional "two-touch dial" function requires three operation steps of opening the main body of the foldable wireless telephone device, pressing a button switch (numeric keypad), and further pressing a call key. However, in the foldable wireless telephone device according to the present invention, two steps of pressing the side button switch to open the main body (or opening the main body while pressing the side button switch) enable more rapid operation. By registering frequently used telephone numbers or emergency contact telephone numbers, convenience can be improved.

Third, by combining the pressing of the side button switch and the opening / closing operation of the foldable wireless telephone device, the number of operation steps is reduced, so that erroneous operation can be prevented.

Fourth, it can be used as a security bell by combining with a sounding device such as an alarm. When there are a plurality of button switches, it is also possible to assign different functions to each button switch.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a closed state of a main body of a preferred embodiment of a foldable wireless telephone device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where a main body of the foldable wireless telephone device shown in FIG. 1 is opened.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a first embodiment of the foldable wireless telephone device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a second embodiment of the foldable wireless telephone device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the foldable wireless telephone device according to the present invention shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the foldable wireless telephone device according to the present invention shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Foldable wireless telephone apparatus 2, 3 Main body 4 Connecting part 5 Switch (side button switch) 6 Antenna 7 Display part 8 Button switch 10 Radio part 11 Voice processing part 12 Control part 13 Side button switch press detection part 14 Open / close detection hand Part 15 Phone number storage part 18, 19 Sound generator

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5K023 AA07 BB11 BB15 DD06 DD08 EE02 GG06 GG07 HH10 LL06 5K027 AA11 BB02 DD16 EE04 HH02 MM04 MM11 5K036 AA07 BB01 DD03 DD25 DD46 FF02 5K067 AA34 FF04 GG04

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A foldable wireless telephone device including a main body that can be opened and closed via a coupling portion, comprising: a detecting means for detecting an open / close state of the main body; and a switch provided on an outer surface of the main body. A foldable wireless telephone device wherein a new function is obtained by opening and closing the main body while operating the switch. 2. The foldable wireless telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the new function is a call to a specific telephone number stored in a telephone number storage unit provided therein. . 3. The foldable wireless telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the new function is sound generation from a sound generation device provided therein. 4. The foldable wireless telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the switch is a push-operation switch provided on an outer surface of the main body. 5. The foldable wireless telephone device according to claim 1, wherein said switch also serves as a reception volume adjustment switch. 6. The foldable wireless telephone device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of switches are used, and different functions are assigned to each switch. 7. The foldable wireless telephone device according to claim 1, wherein the main body is closed when not in a call, and the main body is opened during a call.