JP2002290519A - Mobile terminal and cradle thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To clarify a display information displayed by a liquid crystal display, without preventing reduction is size and weight of terminal and with elimination of increase in the power consumption. SOLUTION: When a mobile information terminal 1 is placed normally on a cradle 10, the light beam emitted from a fluorescent lamp 7 provided in the mobile information terminal 1 is reflected by a reflecting surface 8a of a light guide member 8, passes through a transmitting surface 8b and reaches a rear surface 5b of a liquid crystal display 5 (refer to P1, P2 of the Figure). Meanwhile, the light beam emitted from the fluorescent lamp 14 in the side of cradle 10 passes through the internal side of a cylindrical member 15, a window member 16, window member 9 and internal side of the cylindrical part 8c of the light guide member 8, is reflected by the reflecting surface 8a of the light guide member 8, passes through the transmitting surface 8b and reaches the rear surface 5b of the liquid crystal display 5 (refer to Q1, Q2 of the Figure).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable terminal provided with a liquid crystal display and light emitting means for illuminating the back or front of the liquid crystal display, and a table on which the portable terminal is placed.

[0002]

In recent years, portable terminals such as portable information terminals and portable telephones have become widespread. Now,
This type of mobile terminal is a liquid crystal display (LCD: Luqu
In general, the liquid crystal display is provided with, for example, a fluorescent tube as a light emitting means in order to clarify display information such as current time and characters displayed on the liquid crystal display. In such a configuration, the user using the portable terminal can accurately check the display information displayed on the liquid crystal display by irradiating the fluorescent tube with the back or front of the liquid crystal display.

[0003] Even when the surroundings are extremely bright, in order to clarify the display information displayed on the liquid crystal display, the size of the fluorescent tube is increased, the number of fluorescent tubes is increased, or It is necessary to increase the output of the fluorescent tube. However, in consideration of the fact that mobile terminals are basically carried and used, and miniaturization and weight reduction of the terminals are required, configurations that increase the size of a fluorescent tube or increase the number of fluorescent tubes In view of the fact that the portable terminal is basically driven by a battery, a configuration that increases the output of the fluorescent tube causes an increase in power consumption. It is hard to say that it is preferable.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has as its object to prevent a terminal from being reduced in size and weight while avoiding an increase in power consumption. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable terminal and a table that can clarify display information displayed on a liquid crystal display even in a bright case.

[0005]

According to the portable terminal described in claim 1, when the portable terminal is normally placed on the table,
The light emitting means arranged on the portable terminal illuminates the back or front of the liquid crystal display, and the other light emitting means arranged on the table also illuminates the back or front of the liquid crystal display, thereby illuminating the other light emitting means. Since it is configured to be used as an auxiliary backlight or auxiliary front light for the liquid crystal display, not only the light emitting means arranged on the mobile terminal but also the light emitting means arranged on the table can be used on the back or front of the liquid crystal display. , It is possible to increase the amount of irradiation applied to the back or front of the liquid crystal display as compared to when the portable terminal is not placed on the table.

Accordingly, there is no need to increase the size of the light emitting means of the portable terminal, increase the number of light emitting means of the portable terminal, or increase the output of the light emitting means of the portable terminal. Without hindering downsizing and weight reduction, and while avoiding an increase in power consumption, even when the surroundings are extremely bright, it is possible to clarify the display information displayed by the liquid crystal display, A user using the mobile terminal can accurately check the display information displayed on the liquid crystal display.

According to the mounting table described in claim 2, by using the portable terminal described in claim 1 in combination, it is possible to obtain the same operation and effects as those described in claim 1. . In other words, the display information displayed by the liquid crystal display is made clear even when the surroundings are extremely bright, while not hindering the miniaturization and weight reduction of the terminal and avoiding an increase in power consumption. The user using the mobile terminal can accurately check the display information displayed on the liquid crystal display.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the other light emitting means is a liquid crystal display provided on the portable terminal provided that the detecting means detects that the portable terminal is normally placed. Since the backlight is configured to irradiate the back or front, the user using the portable terminal can perform the other operation by properly placing the portable terminal, without performing any other operation. The back or front can be illuminated, thereby increasing convenience.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which a portable terminal of the present invention is applied to a backlight type portable information terminal in which a fluorescent tube illuminates the back of a liquid crystal display will be described. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 schematically shows a main part of the present invention. The main body case 2 of the portable information terminal 1 is configured by combining a front case 3 on the right side in FIG. 1 and a rear case 4 on the left side in FIG. A liquid crystal display 5 for displaying display information such as the current time and characters is provided in a predetermined portion inside the main body case 2, and a portion corresponding to the front surface 5 a of the liquid crystal display 5 in the front case 3. Is fitted with a window member 6 made of a transparent resin. A fluorescent tube 7 (light emitting means in the present invention) is provided below the portion corresponding to the back surface 5b of the liquid crystal display 5 while being supported by the light guide member 8. In this case, the light emitted from the fluorescent tube 7 is reflected on the reflection surface 8a of the light guide member 8, passes through the transmission surface 8b, and reaches the back surface 5b of the liquid crystal display 5 (FIG. 1).
With such a configuration, the fluorescent tube 7 illuminates the back surface 5b of the liquid crystal display 5 to clarify the display information displayed by the liquid crystal display 5 with such a configuration.

A cylindrical portion 8c extending vertically in FIG. 1 is formed in a lower half portion of the light guide member 8, and a transparent portion is provided below the inside of the cylindrical portion 8c in the main body case 2. A window member 9 made of resin is disposed between the front case 3 and the rear case 4. In addition to the liquid crystal display 5 described above, a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read O
Electronic components such as an nly memory, a crystal oscillator, and a microcomputer are mounted on a printed circuit board.

The main body case 11 of the mounting table 10 is configured by combining an upper case 12 and a bottom case 13. A fluorescent tube 14 (another light-emitting means in the present invention) is provided at a predetermined position inside the main body case 11. A tube member 15 extending vertically in FIG. 1 is disposed above the fluorescent tube 14, and a window member 16 made of a transparent resin is provided above the inside of the tube member 15 in the upper case 12. It is embedded. Also, the upper surface 1 of the upper case 12
2a, a pair of ribs 17a and 17b are integrally formed at a predetermined portion.
a, 17b and is normally mounted on the mounting table 10. When the portable information terminal 1 is normally placed on the table 10, the window member 9 disposed on the portable information terminal 1 side is used.
And the window member 16 disposed on the table 10 side are opposed to each other.

A weight sensor 18 is provided at a predetermined position in the upper case 12.
Outputs a detection signal to the control unit 19 when detecting that the portable information terminal 1 is normally placed on the table 10 and a load corresponding to the weight of the portable information terminal 1 is applied. Control unit 1
The switch 9 outputs an ON signal to the switch 20 when a detection signal is input from the weight sensor 18, and the switch 20 is turned on when an ON signal is input from the control unit 19. Then, in response to the switch 20 being turned on, the fluorescent tube 14 receives predetermined drive power from the power supply unit 21 and emits light. In this case, the power supply unit 21 is supplied with electric power from a battery (not shown) of the vehicle if the table 10 is basically mounted on the vehicle and installed in the vehicle. In addition, if the table 10 is basically for home use installed in a house, for example, power is supplied from a commercial outlet.

According to such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the user using the portable information terminal 1 normally places the portable information terminal 1 on the table 10, the weight of the table 10 is reduced. A detection signal is output from the sensor 18 to the control unit 19, and an ON signal is output from the control unit 19 to the switch 20. In response to this, the fluorescent tube 14 is supplied with predetermined driving power from the power supply unit 21 to emit light.

At this time, the light emitted from the fluorescent tube 7 on the side of the portable information terminal 1 reflects on the reflection surface 8a of the light guide member 8, transmits through the transmission surface 8b, and is transmitted to the rear surface 5b of the liquid crystal display 5. The light emitted from the fluorescent tube 14 on the table 10 side is transmitted to the inside of the cylindrical member 15, the window member 16, the window member 9.
In addition, the light passes through the inside of the cylindrical portion 8c of the light guide member 8, reflects the reflection surface 8a of the light guide member 8, transmits through the transmission surface 8b, and reaches the back surface 5b of the liquid crystal display 5 (arrows Q1 and Q in FIG. 1).
2). That is, at this time, the fluorescent tube 7 provided in the portable information terminal 1 irradiates the back surface 5b of the liquid crystal display 5 and the fluorescent tube 14 provided in the table 10 also irradiates the back surface 5b of the liquid crystal display 5. Will be.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the portable information terminal 1 is normally placed on the table 10,
Since the fluorescent tube 7 provided in the portable information terminal 1 irradiates the back surface 5a of the liquid crystal display 5, and the fluorescent tube 14 provided in the table 10 also irradiates the back surface 5a of the liquid crystal display 5. In comparison with the case where the portable information terminal 1 is not mounted on the table 10, the amount of irradiation applied to the back surface 5a of the liquid crystal display 5 can be increased. Accordingly, it is not necessary to increase the size of the fluorescent tube 7, increase the number of the fluorescent tubes 7, or increase the output of the fluorescent tube 7. Therefore, the portable information terminal 1 can be reduced in size and weight. Even if the surroundings are extremely bright, the display information displayed on the liquid crystal display 5 can be made clear, and the portable information terminal 1 can be displayed without any hindrance and avoiding an increase in power consumption. The user can accurately check the display information displayed on the liquid crystal display 5.

Further, in this case, the portable information terminal 1 is
The fluorescent tube 14 is configured to irradiate the back surface 5b of the liquid crystal display 5 on condition that the weight sensor 18 detects that the portable information terminal 1 is normally mounted. When the portable information terminal 1 is normally placed on the table 10, the fluorescent tube 14 can be illuminated on the back surface 5a of the liquid crystal display 5 without performing any other operation, thereby improving convenience. be able to.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, different parts will be described. The main case 32 of the portable information terminal 31 is a front case 3 on the right side in FIG.
3 and a rear case 34 on the left side in FIG. 2 are combined. The liquid crystal display 5 described in the first embodiment is disposed at a predetermined position inside the main body case 32, and is provided at the predetermined position in the front case 33.
A window member 35 made of a transparent resin is fitted into a portion corresponding to the front surface 5a of the camera. The liquid crystal display 5
The fluorescent tube 7 described above is provided below the portion corresponding to the rear surface 5b of the light guide member 7 so as to be supported by the light guide member 36. In this case, the light emitted from the fluorescent tube 7 is reflected on the reflection surface 36a of the light guide member 36, passes through the transmission surface 36b, and reaches the back surface 5b of the liquid crystal display 5 (arrow in FIG. 2). R1, R2, R3), with such a configuration,
The fluorescent tube 7 illuminates the back surface 5b of the liquid crystal display 5,
The display information displayed by the liquid crystal display 5 is made clear.
Here, in the second embodiment, the liquid crystal display 5
The distance between the light guide member 36 and the light guide member 36 is larger than the distance between the liquid crystal display 5 and the light guide member 8 described in the first embodiment.

An opening 37 is provided below the space between the liquid crystal display 5 and the light guide member 36 in the main body case 32.
The opening 37 is normally closed by a detachable rubber-like cover 38, for example.
In this case, in addition to the liquid crystal display 5 described above, RAM, R,
Electronic components such as an OM, a crystal oscillator, and a microcomputer are mounted on a printed circuit board.

The main case 40 of the mounting table 39 is formed by combining an upper case 41 and a bottom case 42. A fluorescent tube 43 (another light emitting means in the present invention) is provided at a predetermined position inside the main body case 40 while being supported by a light guide member 44. An opening 45 is formed above the light guide member 44 in the upper case 41,
The opening 45 is normally closed by a detachable, for example, rubber-like cover 46. Also, upper case 4
A predetermined portion of the upper surface portion 41a has a pair of ribs 47a,
47b are integrally formed, and the portable information terminal 31
It is positioned on these ribs 47a and 47b and is normally mounted on the mounting table 39. Then, the portable information terminal 31 is placed on the table 3
9, the opening 37 formed on the portable information terminal 31 side and the opening 45 formed on the mounting table 39 face each other.

The weight sensor 18 described in the first embodiment is disposed at a predetermined position in the upper case 41. The weight sensor 18 is connected to the portable information terminal 31 by the table 39.
When a load corresponding to the weight of the portable information terminal 31 is detected, the detection signal is output to the control unit 19 described in the first embodiment. The control unit 19
When a detection signal is input from the weight sensor 18, an on signal is output to the switch 20 described in the first embodiment, and the switch 20 is turned on when an on signal is input from the control unit 19. Then, in response to the switch 20 being turned on, the fluorescent tube 43 is supplied with a predetermined drive power from the power supply unit 21 to emit light, and a drive mechanism (not shown).
When the switch 20 is turned on, predetermined drive power is supplied from the power supply unit 21 to move the fluorescent tube 43 and the light guide member 44 integrally upward.

According to such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 2B, the user using the portable information terminal 31 removes the cover 38 attached to the main body case 32 of the portable information terminal 31, and 39, the cover 46 attached to the upper case 40 is removed, and the portable information terminal 31 is placed on the table 39.
, The detection signal is output from the weight sensor 18 to the control unit 19, the ON signal is output from the control unit 19 to the switch 20, and in response to this, the fluorescent tube 43 is turned on by the power supply unit 21. The drive mechanism supplies predetermined drive power to emit light, and the drive mechanism receives predetermined drive power from the power supply unit 21 to move the fluorescent tube 43 and the light guide member 44 integrally upward. Then, the fluorescent tube 43 and the light guide member 44
Passes through the opening 45 and the opening 37, and finally, the fluorescent tube 7, the light guide member 36 and the liquid crystal display 5.
Is located between

At this time, the light emitted from the fluorescent tube 7 on the portable information terminal 31 side is reflected on the reflecting surface 3 of the light guide member 36.
6a, transmits through the transmission surface 36b, transmits through the reflection and transmission surface 44a of the light guide member 44, transmits through the transmission surface 44b, reaches the back surface 5b of the liquid crystal display 5, and further, the fluorescent tube 43 on the table 39 side. Is reflected by the reflection / transmission surface 44a of the light guide member 44, passes through the transmission surface 44b, and reaches the back surface 5b of the liquid crystal display 5 (arrows S1, S2 in FIG. 2).
2, S3). That is, at this time, the portable information terminal 31
The fluorescent tube 7 disposed on the rear surface 5b of the liquid crystal display 5
And the fluorescent tube 43 provided on the mounting table 39 also irradiates the back surface 5b of the liquid crystal display 5.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the portable information terminal 31 is normally placed on the table 39, the fluorescent tube 7 provided in the portable information terminal 31 is connected to the liquid crystal display 5. The back surface 5a of the liquid crystal display 5 is illuminated by the rear surface 5a of the liquid crystal display 5 while irradiating the back surface 5a.
, The amount of irradiation applied to the back surface 5a of the liquid crystal display 5 can be increased as compared to when the portable information terminal 31 is not placed on the table 39. Accordingly, it is necessary to increase the size of the fluorescent tube 7, increase the number of fluorescent tubes 7, or increase the output of the fluorescent tube 7 in the same manner as described in the first embodiment. Since there is no mobile information terminal 3,
The display information displayed by the liquid crystal display 5 can be made clear even in a case where the surroundings are extremely bright, while not hindering the weight reduction of the device 1 and avoiding an increase in power consumption. The user using the portable information terminal 31 can accurately confirm the display information displayed on the liquid crystal display 5.

(Other Embodiments) The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be modified or expanded as follows. The mobile terminal is not limited to the mobile information terminal, and may be a mobile phone.
Not limited to the fluorescent tube, but may be an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The portable information terminal is not limited to the configuration in which the lower surface of the portable information terminal is in contact with the upper surface of the table, but is configured to be mounted on the table so that the back of the portable information terminal is in contact with the upper surface of the table. There may be.

The sensor for detecting whether or not the portable information terminal is normally placed on the table is not limited to the weight sensor, but may be another sensor such as a proximity sensor or an optical sensor. Not limited to the configuration in which the fluorescent tube is provided on the mounting table, a configuration in which the fluorescent tube is provided outside the mounting table, and the back surface of the liquid crystal display of the portable information terminal is illuminated from the fluorescent tube using light transmission means such as an optical fiber. It may be.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration in which the fluorescent tube is applied to a backlight type in which the rear surface of the liquid crystal display is illuminated, but may be a configuration in which the fluorescent tube is applied to a front light type in which the front surface of the liquid crystal display is illuminated. . In the second embodiment, the driving mechanism for integrally moving the fluorescent tube and the light guide member on the table side upward may be a structure employing, for example, a small motor, and the portable information terminal is mounted on the table. In such a case, both openings may be automatically opened at the time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view schematically showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the drawing, 1 is a portable information terminal (mobile terminal), 5 is a liquid crystal display, 5a is a front, 5b is a back, 7 is a fluorescent tube (light emitting means), 10 is a mounting table, 14 is a fluorescent tube (other light emitting means),
Reference numeral 18 denotes a weight sensor (detection unit), 31 denotes a portable information terminal (portable terminal), 39 denotes a table, and 43 denotes a fluorescent tube (another light emitting unit).

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G09F 9/00 G09F 9/00 336B 337 337A H04M 1/04 H04M 1/04 A 1/11 1/11 Z 1/22 1/22 F-term (reference) 2H088 EA02 EA32 HA28 MA06 2H091 FA42X FA42Z FD06 FD22 LA11 LA16 MA10 2H093 NC45 NC52 ND08 ND39 ND42 NE06 NG20 5G435 AA03 AA18 BB12 BB15 BB16 EE13 H07 0723 FF23 FF23 MM27

Claims (3)

[Claims] A liquid crystal display; and a light emitting means for illuminating the back or front of the liquid crystal display. A portable terminal configured to be used as a backlight or a front light, wherein the light emitting unit irradiates the back or the front of the liquid crystal display in a state where the liquid crystal display is normally placed on the table, and is arranged on the table. The other light emitting means provided illuminates the back or front of the liquid crystal display, whereby the other light emitting means is configured to be used as an auxiliary backlight or an auxiliary front light of the liquid crystal display. Characteristic mobile terminal. 2. A mounting table on which the mobile terminal according to claim 1 is mounted, and irradiates a rear surface or a front surface of a liquid crystal display disposed on the mobile terminal in a state where the mobile terminal is normally mounted. A table provided with another light emitting means. 3. A detecting device for detecting whether the portable terminal is normally placed, wherein the other light emitting device detects that the detecting device detects that the portable terminal is normally placed. 3. The table according to claim 2, wherein the condition is that the back or the front of the liquid crystal display arranged in the portable terminal is illuminated.