JP2002300270A - Method for suppressing power consumption and mobile communication equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power consumption suppressing method capable of suppressing power consumption related to the lighting or display of mobile communication equipment. SOLUTION: This power consumption suppressing method comprises a process for stopping the execution of a function related to the display of a displaying means of the mobile communication equipment or of a function related to the lighting of an operating means in the case of detecting a closed state of an openable and closable structure part, and a process for allowing the execution of the stopped function with the elapse of prescribed time as a condition after detecting the closed state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power consumption suppressing method suitable for use in suppressing power consumption of a mobile communication device, and a mobile communication device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable telephones and PHSs (Personal H
Some mobile communication devices, such as an andy-phone System) terminal, have a structure that can be opened and closed, such as a folding type, in order to reduce the size and make it more portable.

FIGS. 4 to 6 are views showing the appearance of a foldable portable telephone. FIG. 4 shows a fully opened state, FIG. 5 shows a closed state, and FIG. 6 shows an example of a half open state. The mobile phone shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 has openable and closable structural parts 31 and 32. The structure unit 31 includes a display screen 33 of a display unit of the mobile phone. The display means illuminates the display screen 33 as one of the functions related to the display of the display screen 33 in addition to displaying characters and pictures on the display screen 33. For this purpose, the display means comprises a backlight for illuminating the display screen 33. The display screen 33 is illuminated by the backlight so that the display on the screen is easy to see even in a dark place.

[0004] The structure section 32 is provided with various keys (numerical keys for inputting a telephone number and the like, various function keys) of operation means of the mobile phone. The operating means has a function related to illumination of each key, and for this function, a backlight is provided for illumination of each key. Each key of the operating means is illuminated by this backlight so that the characters of the keys are easy to see.

In a conventional foldable mobile phone,
The backlight is automatically turned off when it is closed as shown in FIG. 5, and automatically turned on when it is opened as shown in FIGS. The display on the display screen 33 is automatically performed when the display screen 33 is opened. Here, the reason why the backlight is turned on even in the half-open state as shown in FIG. 6 is to enable the user to see the display on the display screen 33 even in the half-open state.

[0006]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional foldable portable telephone, the backlight is turned on even in the half-open state as shown in FIG. However, this causes the following problems.

[0007] Some users, due to their habits or the like, have the structure parts 31 and 32 of the foldable portable telephone regardless of whether or not they are used.
May open and close unintentionally. Even in such a case, the conventional foldable mobile phone turns on the backlight each time the foldable mobile phone is opened and closed, and consumes power for the lighting.
Similarly, since the display on the display screen 33 is automatically performed when the display is opened, power for this display is also consumed. As a result, there is a problem that the usable time of the battery, which is the power supply of the mobile phone, is shortened.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a power consumption suppressing method capable of suppressing power consumption related to lighting or display of a mobile communication device, and a mobile communication device. Is to do.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for suppressing power consumption in a mobile communication device having a structure capable of being opened and closed, comprising the steps of: Upon detecting the close, the process of stopping the execution of the function related to the display of the display means of the mobile communication device or the function related to the illumination of the operation means, and the function of the stopped function on condition that a predetermined time has elapsed after the close detection. And permitting execution.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a step of detecting the opening of the structural portion when the predetermined time has not elapsed, and using the operating means after the detection of the opening. And granting the permission on condition that the permission is given.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile communication device having a structure that can be opened and closed, wherein when a close of the structure is detected, a function related to a display of its own display means or a lighting of an operation means is provided. Control means for stopping the execution of the function and permitting the execution of the stopped function on condition that a predetermined time has elapsed after the detection of the close is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the control means includes an open / close detecting means for detecting the opening or closing of the structure, a timer for measuring the predetermined time, Control signal output means for outputting a control signal indicating the permission based on the detection result of the open / close detection means and the measurement state of the timer.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the third or fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means detects that the structural portion has not been opened before the predetermined time has elapsed, and then the operation means The above-mentioned permission is given on condition that it is used.

[0014]

DETAILED 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 a configuration of a mobile phone (mobile communication device) according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls each part of the circuit. 2 is a CPU 1
(Read only memory) in which the program and the like are stored. Reference numeral 3 denotes a RAM (random access memory) for temporarily storing data. Reference numeral 4 denotes an operation unit provided with numeric keys for inputting telephone numbers and the like, various function keys, and the like, and reference numeral 5 denotes a display unit including a liquid crystal display panel and a display control circuit. The RAM 3 is backed up by a battery, and stored data is retained even when the power of the mobile phone is turned off.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an antenna, and reference numeral 7 denotes a communication processing unit that transmits and receives radio signals via the antenna 6 and controls communication for establishing a radio telephone line. Reference numeral 8 denotes an audio processing unit that processes audio transmitted and received via the wireless telephone line established by the communication processing unit 7. Reference numeral 9 denotes a microphone for inputting audio to the audio processing unit 8, and reference numeral 10 denotes a speaker that outputs audio input from the audio processing unit 8. Reference numeral 11 denotes a ringtone generation unit that generates a ringtone according to an instruction from the CPU 1 and outputs the ringtone to the speaker 12. Reference numeral 13 denotes execution of a function related to illumination of the operation unit 4 and display unit 5.
Is a control unit that controls the execution of the function related to the display of.

The portable telephone shown in FIG. 1 is a foldable portable telephone having the appearance shown in FIGS. 4 shows a fully opened state, FIG. 5 shows a closed state, and FIG. 6 shows an example of a half open state. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the mobile phone of FIG. 1 has openable and closable structural portions (folders) 31 and 32. The folder 31 has a display screen 33 of a liquid crystal panel of the display unit 5. The folder 32 is the operation unit 4
Numeric keys, various function keys, and the like.

The display section (display means) 5 has a display screen 33.
Has a function related to the display. The function related to this display is a function of displaying characters and pictures on the display screen 33 (display function).
And a function to make the display easier to see (display auxiliary function)
including. The liquid crystal panel of the display unit 5 has a backlight for illumination to assist the display, and the backlight illuminates the display screen 33 so that the display on the screen can be easily viewed even in a dark place.

When a display screen is constituted by a display medium other than the liquid crystal panel, a display auxiliary function corresponding to the display medium is one of functions related to display. For example, when the display medium itself emits light to perform display, the function of changing the emission intensity corresponds to the display auxiliary function. As a display medium that performs display by emitting light, an electroluminescent display (ELD) or a plasma display (P
LD).

The operation section (operation means) 4 has a function relating to illumination of each key. For this purpose, the operation unit 4 has a backlight for illuminating each key, and the backlight illuminates each key so that the characters of the keys can be easily viewed.

In this embodiment, a foldable mobile phone as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 has been described as an example of a mobile communication device having a structure that can be opened and closed. You may. For example, some of the lid-equipped types have a lid that covers an operation unit as an openable / closable structure unit to prevent erroneous operation.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 13 shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a folder opening / closing detecting unit that detects the opening or closing of the folders 31, 32. Reference numeral 22 denotes a timer for measuring a predetermined time. A control signal output unit 23 outputs a control signal A2 indicating permission of illumination and display to the operation unit 4 and the display unit 5 based on the detection result of the folder open / close detection unit 21 and the measurement state of the timer 22. . The control signal output unit 2
3 receives the key interrupt signal A1 from the operation unit 4, and also controls the output of the control signal A2 based on the key interrupt signal A1. The operation unit 4 outputs a key interrupt signal A1 on condition that any key of the folder 32 is used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 13 operates the operation unit 4.
And a control signal A2 to the display unit 5 to control execution of a function related to illumination of the operation unit 4 and execution of a function related to display of the display unit 5. The operation unit 4 turns on the backlight of each key when the control signal A2 is ON, and turns off the light when the control signal A2 is OFF. The display unit 5 turns on the backlight of the display screen 33 when the control signal A2 is in the ON state, and displays the display screen 33. On the other hand, in the OFF state, the backlight of the display screen 33 is turned off, and the display of the display screen 33 is not displayed.

The folder opening / closing detecting section 21 shown in FIG. 2 detects the opening of the folders 31 and 32. This opening detection detects that the folder has been changed from the closed state to the open state. The open state refers to a state that is neither the fully open state nor the closed state (half open state). FIG. 6 shows an example of this half-open state. The folder opening / closing detecting unit 21 detects the folder 3
The detection of the closing of 1, 32 is performed, and this closing detection detects that it is in the closed state.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, the control unit 13 shown in FIG.
Will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the power consumption reduction process performed by the control unit 13 shown in FIG. First, the mobile phone of FIG. 1 is in an open state, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. When the user closes the folders 31 and 32 of the mobile phone and changes from the open state to the closed state,
The folder opening / closing detection section 21 detects this, and notifies the control signal output section 23 of the close detection. In response to this notification, the control signal output unit 23 turns off the control signal A2 (Steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 3). Thereby, the operation unit 4 turns off the backlight of each key. The display unit 5 turns off the backlight of the display screen 33 and makes the display of the display screen 33 undisplayed.

Next, the control signal output unit 23
Start After the timer 22 times out, the user opens the folders 31 and 32 of the mobile phone, and the folder open / close detection unit 21 detects this and notifies the control signal output unit 23 of the open detection. Signal A
2 is turned on (steps S3 to S6 in FIG. 3). Thereby, the operation unit 4 turns on the backlight of each key. The display unit 5 turns on the backlight of the display screen 33 to display the display screen 33.

On the other hand, before the timer 22 times out, the user opens the folders 31 and 32 of the portable telephone, and the folder opening / closing detecting section 21 detects this and outputs the control signal output section 23
, The control signal output unit 23 keeps the control signal A2 OFF (step S7 in FIG. 3).
Is "YES"). Accordingly, the operation unit 4 maintains the state where the backlight of each key is turned off, and the display unit 5 maintains the state where the backlight of the display screen 33 is turned off and the display of the display screen 33 is not displayed. Become.

Here, when the user uses any key of the operation unit 4, the operation unit 4 outputs a key interrupt signal A1, and the control signal output unit 23 performs control on condition that the input of the key interrupt signal A1 is performed. The signal A2 is turned on (steps S8 and S9 in FIG. 3). Thereby, the operation unit 4 turns on the backlight of each key, and the display unit 5 turns on the backlight of the display screen 33 to display the display screen 33.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the control unit 13 detects that the folders 31 and 32 are closed, the control signal A2 is turned off, the backlight of each key of the operation unit 4 is turned on, and the display unit is turned on. The lighting of the backlight of the display screen 33 and the display of the display screen 33 are stopped. Next, after the detection of the closing, the control signal A2 is turned on under the condition of the timeout of the timer 22 (elapse of a predetermined time), the backlight of each key of the operation unit 4 is turned on, and the display screen 3 of the display unit 5 is turned on.
Lighting of the backlight and display of the display screen 33 are permitted.

Therefore, if the user unconsciously opens the folders 31 and 32 from the closed state to the open state before the time-out of the timer 22 due to a habit or the like, the backlights of the operation unit 4 and the display unit 5 are turned off and the display is stopped. The screen 33 is not displayed. As a result, it is possible to suppress power consumption for lighting or display of the mobile phone. On the other hand, the timer 22
When the folders 31 and 32 are changed from closed to open after the timeout, the backlight of the operation unit 4 is turned on and the display screen 33 is displayed, so that the user can display the display screen 33 even in the half-open state. You can see.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 13
Before the timeout of the timer 22 (when the predetermined time has not elapsed)
Control signal A on condition that any key of the operation unit 4 is used after the detection of the opening of the folders 31 and 32 in
2 is turned on to permit lighting of the backlight of each key of the operation unit 4, lighting of the backlight of the display screen 33 of the display unit 5, and display of the display screen 33.

Therefore, the user sets the folder 3 before the timer 22 times out for the purpose of using the portable telephone.
Even when 1, 32 are closed to open, no trouble occurs when the mobile phone is used. This means that the lighting of the backlight of each key of the operation unit 4 of the mobile phone, the lighting of the backlight of the display screen 33 of the display unit 5, and the display of the display screen 33 are performed on condition that a predetermined time has elapsed after the close detection. The object of the present invention is to solve a new problem caused by enabling the power consumption for lighting or display by permitting. This new problem is that if the folders 31 and 32 are opened from the closed state before the time-out, no illumination or display is performed even if the purpose is to use the mobile phone. This has an excellent effect that a situation can be prevented.

In the above-described embodiment, the control unit 13 controls the execution of the function related to the illumination of the operation unit 4 and the execution of the function related to the display of the display unit 5. Any of the display units 5 may be controlled. Further, among the functions related to the display of the display unit 5, the function of controlling either one of the display function on the display screen or the function for facilitating the display (display auxiliary function) may be used. However, it is desirable to control the execution of the function related to the illumination of the operation unit 4 and the execution of all the functions (display function and display auxiliary function) related to the display of the display unit 5 because the power consumption is further suppressed.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the present invention is applied to a mobile phone as a mobile communication device. However, the present invention is similarly applicable to a PHS (Personal Handy-phone System) terminal and a portable information terminal. .

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and a design change or the like may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. included.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Upon detecting that the openable and closable structure is closed, execution of the function related to the display of the display means of the mobile communication device or the function related to the illumination of the operation means is stopped. Allow the execution of the specified function. Therefore,
If the user changes the structure from the closed state to the open state before the elapse of the predetermined time due to a habit or the like, the function related to the display of the display means or the function related to the illumination of the operation means is not performed. Become. As a result, an effect is obtained that power consumption for lighting or display of the mobile communication device can be suppressed.

Further, after detecting the opening of the structure that can be opened and closed when the predetermined time has not elapsed, the functions related to the display of the display means of the mobile communication device or the illumination of the operation means are provided on condition that the operation means is used. If permission to execute the function is given, even if the user opens the structure from a closed state before a predetermined time elapses for the purpose of using the mobile phone, a problem occurs when using the mobile phone. This has the effect of preventing the occurrence of such a phenomenon.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile phone (mobile communication device) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit 13 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a power consumption reduction process performed by a control unit 13 illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a first view showing the appearance of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a second view showing the appearance of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a third view showing the appearance of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 CPU 2 ROM 3 RAM 4 Operation part 5 Display part 6 Antenna 7 Communication processing part 8 Audio processing part 9 Microphone 10, 12 Speaker 11 Ring tone generation part 13 Control part 21 Folder open / close detection part 22 Timer 23 Control signal output part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method for suppressing power consumption in a mobile communication device having an openable and closable structure, wherein when a close of the structure is detected, a function related to a display on a display unit of the mobile communication device or illumination of an operation unit. And a step of permitting execution of the stopped function on condition that a predetermined time elapses after the close detection. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of detecting the opening of the structural portion when the predetermined time has not elapsed, and a step of, after the detection of the opening, giving the permission on condition that the operating means is used. The method for suppressing power consumption according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A mobile communication device having an openable and closable structure, wherein upon detecting that the structure is closed, execution of a function related to a display of its own display means or a function related to illumination of an operation means is stopped. And a control unit for permitting execution of the stopped function on condition that a predetermined time has elapsed after the close detection. 4. The control unit includes: an opening / closing detecting unit that detects opening or closing of the structural unit; a timer that measures the predetermined time; and a detection result of the opening / closing detecting unit and a measurement state of the timer. 4. The mobile communication device according to claim 3, further comprising control signal output means for outputting a control signal indicating the permission. 5. The control device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit gives the permission on condition that the operation unit is used after detecting the opening of the structure unit when the predetermined time has not elapsed. The mobile communication device according to claim 4.