JP2003031078A - Cellular phone handset and operation support component for the cellular phone handset - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a good operation without impairing portability. SOLUTION: An operation support component 8 which can be freely installed on a cellular phone body, by being fit on the central keytop that constitutes a multi-functional button 5 is prepared. When the operation support component 8 is installed on the cellular phone body, its protrusion is displaced by being operated by the user and appropriately dep-resses the central keytop and a ring-shape keytop that constitute the multi-function button 5, the switches which should be turned on as appropriate the five key switches of the multi-functional button 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mobile terminal such as a mobile communication terminal and an operation assisting component for the mobile terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a mobile phone, a multi-function button is used which allows one key top to operate a plurality of key switches (eg, four or five). That is, for example, a key switch is provided so that it can be operated by pressing the left and right ends and the upper and lower ends with respect to the center of the key top, and the direction operation such as cursor movement operation can be performed depending on the pressing direction of the key top. It is possible to accept.

With such a multi-function button, the user can perform various operations with his / her finger placed on one key top and by slightly shifting the finger.
That is, it is possible to improve operability.

By the way, in the case of a mobile phone, if the buttons and the like are extremely protruded from the surface of the set, the portability may be deteriorated and erroneous operation during carrying may occur. Therefore, the key tops have a relatively flat shape. I have no choice but to say. This is also true of the multifunction button, and the key top of the multifunction button is also flat.

For this reason, it is difficult to displace the key top so that a plurality of key switches can be operated without error, and a key switch different from the one intended by the user may be turned on. .

Note that such a problem is not peculiar to a mobile phone, and is caused by various operation units in various types of mobile terminals such as mobile communication terminals including other types and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants). Can be said in common.

[0007]

As described above, in the conventional portable terminal, since the key tops of the operation buttons are forced to have a flat shape in order to ensure portability, the operability is sufficiently good. It was difficult to realize.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to realize good operability without impairing portability. .

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of key switches for receiving a user operation and at least one of the key switches for operating each of the plurality of key switches by being displaced. A stick-shaped projection is formed on a mobile terminal having two key tops, and the projection can be fitted to any of the key tops so that the projection is located on the front side, and the stick-shaped projection is placed in the fitted state. It is possible to mount an operation assisting component for displacing the key top to operate each of the plurality of key switches by displacing the protrusion.

By taking such means, the plurality of key switches can be operated by displacing the protrusions in the state where the operation assisting component is mounted. The operation assisting component can be removed when not needed. Therefore, the height of the protrusion can be increased without considering deterioration of portability, and a plurality of key switches can be operated by displacing the protrusion having such a relatively large height.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a mobile phone according to this embodiment.

In this figure, the reference numeral 1 is a housing. The housing 1 is provided with an antenna 2, an earpiece 3, a liquid crystal display 4, a multi-function button 5, a large number of buttons 6, a mouthpiece 7 and the like, and an electric circuit and the like are housed therein to carry it. The phone body is configured. Further, the mobile phone has an operation auxiliary component 8 which is not fixed to the housing 1 but is separate from the main body of the mobile phone. As shown in FIG. 1, the operation assisting component 8 is optionally attached to the multifunction button 5 for use.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the periphery of the multi-function button 5 in FIG.

As shown in this figure, the multi-function button 5 has a central key top 51 and a ring-shaped key top 52. The central key top 51 has a circular planar shape at the top. The ring-shaped key top 52 has a ring shape.
The center key top 51 is located in the center hole of the ring-shaped key top 52, and there is a slight gap between the center key top 51 and the ring-shaped key top 52.

Further, the multi-function button 5 has five key switches, which are not shown in FIG. This 5
One of the two key switches has a central key top 51
It is provided below. The remaining four key switches are provided below the ring-shaped key top 52 and arranged at equal intervals along the ring-shaped key top 52. Thus, by pressing the central key top 51, the key switch below the central key top can be turned on.
Further, by pressing the ring-shaped key top 52, the key switch located below the pressed position of the ring-shaped key top 52 can be turned on. Four recesses 52a, 52b, 52c and 52d are formed on the top of the ring-shaped key top 52.

The central key tops 51 and the ring-shaped key tops 52 are so small that the amount of protrusion from the surface of the housing 1 does not hinder the storage.

3A and 3B are perspective views showing the structure of the operation assisting component 8, FIG. 3A showing the front side and FIG. 3B showing the back side.

The operation assisting component 8 is made of resin, for example. Examples of the resin to be applied include an elastomer (TPE: thermoplastic elastomer) such as MILASTOMER 9070 (olefin elastomer) manufactured by Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation assisting component 8 includes a main body 81, a protrusion 82, a strap attachment piece 83, a through hole 84,
Fitting portion 85 and convex portions 86a, 86b, 86c, 86d
Is integrally molded.

The main body 81 has a thin disk shape, and its outer diameter is substantially the same as the outer shape of the ring-shaped key top 52. The back surface of the main body 81 has a curved surface that matches the curved surface of the ring-shaped key top 52 as shown in FIG. 3B.

The projection 82 has a cylindrical shape and is provided so as to project from the center of the surface of the main body 81. Although not shown, the tops of the projections 82 are formed with, for example, small projections or grooves to form a slip stopper.

The strap attachment piece 83 is provided on the surface of the main body 81 so as to slightly project from the outer periphery of the main body 81. A through hole 84 is formed in the strap attachment piece 83 at a position protruding from the outer periphery of the main body 81.

The fitting portion 85 has a hollow cylindrical shape. The fitting portion 85 is positioned so as to be coaxial with the protrusion 82.
Is provided so as to project from the back surface of the. The diameter and the thickness of the fitting portion 85 are set so that the fitting portion 85 can enter the gap between the central key top 51 and the ring-shaped key top 52.

The convex portions 86a, 86b, 86c, 86d are
It is provided so as to project from the back surface of the main body 81. Convex portion 86
a, 86b, 86c, 86d are concave portions 52a, 52b, 52c, formed in the ring-shaped key top 52, respectively.
It is sized and shaped to fit in 52d. Moreover, the convex portion 8
6a, 86b, 86c and 86d are recessed portions 52, respectively.
It is formed at a position facing a, 52b, 52c, and 52d.

4A and 4B are views showing the appearance of the portable telephone in which the operation assisting component 8 is attached. FIG. 4A is a plan view showing the front surface, and FIG. 4B is the inside of FIG. 4A. SIDE-S
FIG. 4 (c) is an enlarged view of the area encircled by the circle in FIG. 4 (b).

As shown by the arrow in FIG. 1, the multi-function button 5
When the operation assisting component 8 is pushed in such a state that it is put on the cover, the fitting portion 85 of the operation assisting component 8 enters the gap between the central key top 51 and the ring-shaped key top 52, and the central key is inserted into the hollow portion of the fitting portion 85. The top 51 fits. As a result, the operation assisting component 8 is fitted to the central key top 51 as shown in FIG. And at this time, the convex portion 8 of the operation assisting component 8
6a, 86b, 86c, 86d are recesses 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d formed in the ring-shaped key top 52.
To fit each. In this way, the operation assisting component 8
Can be optionally attached to the body of the mobile phone.

When the operation assisting component 8 is attached, the user presses the protrusion 82 in the vertical direction to press the central key top 51, and the key switch corresponding to the central key top 51 is turned on. On the other hand, when the user pushes down the protrusion 82 in any of the upward direction, the downward direction, the rightward direction, and the leftward direction in FIG. 4A, the four key switches corresponding to the ring-shaped keytop 52 are appropriately selected. The ring-shaped key top 52 is pressed to turn it on.

In this way, the multi-function button 5 can be operated freely by simply operating the projection 82. Since the operation assisting component 8 can be arbitrarily removed when it becomes an obstacle during storage, the projection 8
2 can be set to a sufficient height suitable for performing the above-mentioned operation, and the above-mentioned operation can be reliably performed with good operability.

Further, since the projection 82 can be operated with a rough and reliable operation as compared with the case where the central key top 51 or the ring-shaped key top 52 itself is operated, it is difficult to perform a detailed operation. However, there is a high possibility that a reliable operation can be performed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the projections 86a, 86b, 86c, 86d of the operation assisting component 8 are recessed in the ring-shaped key tops 52, 52a, 52b, 52c, 5 respectively.
Since the projections 82 are displaced, the operation assisting component 8 does not rotate about the central key top 51 as they are fitted in the 2d. Therefore, the user can surely displace the protrusion 82, and a reliable operation becomes possible.

In recent years, it has become possible to enjoy a game using a mobile phone, and the operation in this game may dislike the loss of time, and the structure of the multi-function button 5 indicates the direction of up, down, left and right. In this case, the operability cannot be said to be excellent because the movement of the finger is accompanied to some extent. However, by mounting the operation assisting component 8 of the present embodiment, it is possible to indicate the direction of up, down, left, and right with almost no movement of the finger, so that extremely good operability can be realized.

Further, in this embodiment, since a slip stopper is formed on the top of the projection 82, even when the projection 82 is quickly operated, the finger does not slip and a reliable operation is possible.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the strap mounting piece 83 having the through hole 84 is provided, the strap (not shown) connected to the housing 1 can be mounted here. . By attaching the strap to the strap attachment piece 83 in this manner, the operation assisting component 8
Does not need to be stored separately even when removed,
It can also be prevented from being lost. Further, since the strap attachment piece 83 has a knob-like shape in the present embodiment, it can be used also as a knob when the operation assisting component 8 is detached from the main body of the mobile phone, and its work can be prepared.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the operation assisting component 8
Is supposed to be fitted to the central key top 51,
It is also possible to adopt a structure in which the ring-shaped key top 52 is fitted.

Further, in the above embodiment, the recesses 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d and the projections 86 for preventing rotation are provided.
Four pairs of a, 86b, 86c, and 86d are provided, but the number may be arbitrary. Further, the concave portion and the convex portion for preventing the rotation are not essential, and it is possible not to provide them at all.

In the above embodiment, the multi-function button 5
Describes that five key switches are operated by two key tops, but the configuration can be arbitrarily changed, such as one key top operated by five key switches.

In the above embodiment, the operation assisting component 8 is attached to the multi-function button 5, but the attachment destination may be arbitrary, for example, it may be attached to the numeric keypad.

Further, in the above embodiment, a slip stopper is formed on the top of the projection 82 of the operation assisting component 8, but this is not essential and it is also possible not to provide it.

Further, in the above embodiment, the strap attachment piece 83 is provided on the operation assisting component 8, but this is not essential and it is also possible not to provide it.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a mobile phone, but the present invention can be applied to various mobile communication terminals regardless of the communication system. The communication function is not essential, and the present invention can be applied to other mobile terminals such as PDA.

Besides, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0043]

According to the present invention, an operation assisting component which can be arbitrarily mounted is prepared, and when the operation assisting component is mounted, the protrusion is displaced so that the operation assisting component has a plurality of key switches. Since they are operated individually, the height of the protrusion can be increased without considering the deterioration of portability, and the operation of multiple key switches can be performed by displacing the protrusion with such a large height. As a result, good operability can be realized without impairing portability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the periphery of a multi-function button 5 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an operation assisting component 8.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an external appearance of the mobile phone in a state in which an operation assisting component 8 is attached.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Case 2 ... antenna 3 ... Earpiece 4 ... Liquid crystal display 5 ... Multi-function button 51 ... Central key top 52 ... Ring-shaped key top 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d ... Recesses 6 ... button 7 ... mouthpiece 8 ... Operation auxiliary parts 81 ... Main body 82 ... Protrusion 83 ... Strap attachment piece 84 ... Through hole 85 ... Fitting part 86a, 86b, 86c, 86d ... Convex portion

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A mobile terminal that receives a user operation and performs processing in accordance with the user operation, wherein a plurality of key switches for receiving the user operation and a plurality of key switches that are displaced to operate each of the plurality of key switches. At least one key top and a stick-shaped projection are formed, and the projection can be fitted to any of the key tops so that the projection is located on the front side, and the projection is in a fitted state. A mobile terminal, comprising: an operation auxiliary component that displaces the key top so as to operate each of the plurality of key switches by being displaced. 2. The key top is a first key top for operating one of the plurality of key switches, and at least two keys arranged around the key switch operated by the first key top. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal includes at least one second key switch for operating each switch, and the operation auxiliary component is fitted to the first key top. 3. A plurality of key switches for receiving the user operation, and at least one key top for operating each of the plurality of key switches by being displaced, wherein the plurality of key switches are provided. The key top is to be arbitrarily attached to a mobile terminal that receives a received user operation and performs processing in accordance with the user operation, and has a stick-shaped protrusion formed so that the protrusion is located on the front side. An operation assisting component that can be fitted to any of the above and that displaces the key top to operate each of the plurality of key switches by displacing the protrusion in the fitted state.