JP2003143284A - Portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable terminal, in which portability is improved by sharply displaying an image by preventing a display part from getting dirty and by improving operability by enabling a user to freely set the direction of an operating part corresponding to the direction of the displayed image. SOLUTION: The folding portable telephone provided with a main body 1 of display part equipped with a liquid crystal display panel 2, in which character information and image information can be displayed, and a main body 3 of operating part equipped with an operating part 4 having a mechanical push-button 4a and linked through a hinge 8 to the main body 1 of display part, is provided with a varying means for varying the direction of the operating part 4 corresponding to the main body 3 of operating part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a mobile terminal,
Specifically, the present invention relates to a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone that is compatible with broadband communication.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, with the spread of the Internet, broadband (high-bandwidth communication network) capable of transmitting and receiving large amounts of information at high speed has been put into practical use, and along with it, in communication terminals such as personal computers and mobile phones. Image and voice data can be transmitted and received by a videophone and a television image can be received in real time.

In particular, when a small display screen such as a mobile phone simultaneously satisfies TV use and mobile use (mail reception), images and characters are displayed and output depending on whether the characters are output and displayed. It needs to be easy to see.

[0004] Specifically, currently popular mobile phones have a vertically long display screen, and when a mail is viewed on this vertically long screen, the frequency of moving the eyes up and down increases, and It's difficult to see the characters in some. For this reason, some characters are arranged in the extending direction of the horizontally long screen (that is, the horizontal direction) so that the frequency of moving the eyes up and down is reduced to make the characters easier to see (for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI-6 (1994)). -1871
20).

However, when the display screen is rotated with respect to the operation unit, the direction of the operation unit (arrangement direction of operation buttons)
And the display screen do not match and they differ by 90 °, and I feel that the operability of the operating unit is poor.

On the other hand, when watching television, the screen configuration is 4
It is known that it is easy to see on a (horizontal): 3 (vertical) or 16 (horizontal): 9 (horizontal) screen, that is, a horizontally long screen, but as mentioned above, a mobile phone has a vertically long display screen. If you want to watch TV on this screen, it is necessary to reduce the TV image in the vertically long display screen so that it becomes a horizontally long screen configuration. Hard to see.

As a solution to such a problem, for example, there is a mobile phone described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-65436. This product provides a touch panel on the image display unit and changes the display direction of the image displayed on the image display unit to display the image in a display direction that is easy for the user to improve the operability. Can be made.

[0008]

However, in such a conventional mobile phone, since the touch panel is touched by a finger, the touch panel becomes dirty and the image is clearly displayed on the image display section below the touch panel. There was a problem that it could not be displayed.

Further, since the touch panel is provided on the image display section, the cell phone becomes large in size, and there is a problem that good portability cannot be expected.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems. It is possible to prevent the display unit from becoming dirty and display an image clearly, and to change the orientation of the operation unit according to the orientation of the display image. Provides a portable terminal with excellent portability that can be freely set to improve operability.

[0011]

A portable terminal of the present invention is provided with a display unit main body provided with a display unit capable of displaying character information and image information, and an operation unit, and the display unit main body is hinged. A foldable portable terminal comprising an operation section main body connected to the operation section main body, and having a changing means capable of changing the direction of the operation section with respect to the operation section main body.

With such a structure, the operation section and the display section are separated, so that the display section can be prevented from becoming dirty when the operation section is operated, and an image can be displayed clearly. In addition, since the orientation of the operation unit can be changed with respect to the orientation of the display unit, when displaying a television image, if the orientation of the operation unit and the orientation of the display unit are the same, the operation unit is operated. The operability when doing can be improved. Further, at this time, if the television screen is displayed so as to be a horizontally long screen, the television image can be displayed clearly.

When sending character information such as mail, the orientation of the display unit is in a direction that is easy for the user to see, for example, to display mail on a vertically long screen or to input characters for sending mail. By setting the directions of the operating section to be the same, the operability when operating the operating section can be improved.

Further, since the portable terminal is a foldable type, the portability of the portable terminal can be improved.

Further, in the portable terminal of the present invention, the operation section is composed of a mechanical push button.

With such a structure, it is possible to support a portable terminal equipped with a mechanical push button.

Further, in the portable terminal of the present invention, the operation section is composed of a touch panel.

With such a structure, it is possible to support a portable terminal equipped with a touch panel.

Further, in the portable terminal of the present invention, when the operation unit is changed to the first position or the second position by the changing unit, the character information or the image information displayed on the display unit is displayed. It is configured to switch the direction to the same direction as the operation unit.

With such a configuration, when the orientation of the operating portion is switched, the orientation of the character information or the image information can be switched in the same direction as the operating portion, so that the operability of the operating portion is improved and it is easy to see. You can get the display screen.

Further, in the portable terminal of the present invention, in association with switching of the operation section between the first position and the second position by the changing means, the character information or the image information displayed on the display section is displayed. It is configured to switch directions.

With such a configuration, when the orientation of the operating portion is switched, the orientation of the character information or the image information can be automatically switched in the same direction as the operating portion, so that the operability of the operating portion is further improved. While making it possible, it is possible to easily obtain a display screen that is easy to see.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

1 to 7 show a first portable terminal according to the present invention.
It is a figure which shows embodiment, and shows the example which used the mobile telephone as a mobile terminal.

First, the structure will be described. 1 to 4, a liquid crystal display panel (display unit) 2 capable of displaying character information and image information is provided in a display unit main body 1, and the display unit main body 1 is provided with a hinge 8 for an operation unit main body. Connected to 3. The liquid crystal display panel 2 of the present embodiment is
As shown in FIG. 2A, when the display unit main body 1 and the operation unit main body 3 are vertically arranged, the screen configuration is 4 (horizontal): 3
It is configured to have a horizontally long screen of (vertical) or 16 (horizontal): 9 (horizontal). Further, the display unit main body 1 is provided with the earpiece 1a, and the operation unit main body 3 is provided with the voice transmitter 3a, so that a conversation can be conducted by the voice receiver 1a and the voice transmitter 3a.

Further, the operation section body 3 is provided with an operation section 4 having a mechanical push button 4a such as a ten-key pad, an on-hook button, an off-hook button, and a mail transmission button. The mobile phone is foldable by overlapping and separating it from the display unit main body 1.

An antenna 7 is provided in the display unit body 1 (only FIG. 3 is shown), and the antenna 7 is housed in the display unit body 1 and can be pulled out. An information recording card (for example, SD card) is provided on the operation unit main body 3.
6 is mounted, and the information recording card 6 is accommodated in the operation section body 3 through an insertion hole (not shown) provided in the operation section body 3.

Further, the reason why the insertion hole is provided on the lower side of the operation section main body 1 is that this type of equipment may be used outdoors, especially when it is raining. At this time, if the insertion hole is directed upward in use, rainwater may enter and cause a short circuit on the printed circuit board.To prevent this, make it possible to prevent rainwater from entering downward. There is.

On the other hand, the operating portion 4 is rotatable with respect to the operating portion main body 3, and the operating portion 4 is moved by putting a finger on the slip preventing portion 5 formed on the operating surface of the operating portion 4. It is designed to rotate in a 90 ° rotation range.

5 to 8 are views showing the structure of the rotating mechanism (variable means).

5 to 8, a disc-shaped rotating member having a push button 4a of the operating portion 4 mounted on the operating portion main body 3.
11 is provided, and the rotating member 11 is rotatably supported by the fixed shaft 12. A sliding portion 11a is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating member 11, and the sliding portion 11a is slidably contacted with a support member 13 provided inside the operation portion main body 3. Therefore, the rotating member 11 can be rotated on the horizontal plane while the sliding portion 11a is guided by the supporting portion 13, so that the rotating member 11 can be folded at any position.

A printed circuit board is provided on the rear surface of the rotating member 11.
An electronic component such as a CPU for controlling the entire mobile phone is mounted on the printed circuit board 18.
A strip-shaped flexible board 10 is interposed between the printed board 18 and the rotating member 11 as shown in FIG. 7A, and one end 10 a of the flexible board 10 is connected to the rotating member 11. At the same time, the other end 10b is folded back and connected to the printed circuit board 18. Therefore, when the operation portion 4 is rotated, the one end 10a of the flexible substrate 18 moves between the position indicated by the solid line and the position indicated by the broken line, thereby permitting the rotation of the operation portion 4 (FIG. 7 (b)).

In this embodiment, the flexible substrate
Although 18 is used, as another example, in a printed circuit board and a flexible circuit board, a contact spring is provided on one side and a contact spring contact portion is provided on the other side so that electrical connection can be achieved at a predetermined or arbitrary position. It may be.

Further, the operation section 4 is provided with a matrix of wirings, and when the operation button 4a is pressed, a signal is output from the wiring corresponding to each operation button 4a. By outputting a signal to, the button pressed by the printed circuit board 18 is detected.

A flexible substrate for electrically connecting the operation unit body 3 and the display unit body 1 in the hinge 8 between the display unit body 1 and the operation unit body 3 (the connection relationship will be described later). 15 is interposed, and the flexible substrate 15 biases the display unit main body 1 and the operation unit main body 3 in a direction of separating from each other. Further, the display unit main body 1 and the operation unit main body 3 are provided with engaging portions (not shown) that engage with each other, and when the display unit main body 1 and the operation unit main body 3 are folded, the flexible substrate 15 is biased by the urging force. By the engagement of the engaging portions against each other, the display unit body 1 and the operation unit body 3
Can be prevented from opening.

Further, the printed circuit board 18 is connected to the printed circuit board 16 for controlling the liquid crystal display panel 2 via the flexible substrate 15, and the printed circuit board 16 is based on a command from the printed circuit board 18 and is connected to the liquid crystal display panel 2. It is designed to display various types of.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the detecting portion 21 for detecting the rotational position of the operating portion 4 is provided inside the operating portion main body 3 (see FIG. 8). A detection signal is output to the control unit 22 when a magnet (not shown) formed of an element and provided in the operation unit 4 is detected. The control unit 22 is composed of a CPU and operates when the detection signal from the detection unit 21 is input.
Is located at the first position, and when the detection signal from the detection unit 21 is not input, it is determined that the operation unit 4 is located at the second position.

Then, based on this judgment result, the switching unit 23
Output a signal to. When the first switching signal is input from the control unit 22, the switching unit 23 outputs an image on a horizontally long (horizontal direction) screen, for example, in order to output a television image, and the control unit 22 outputs the first image. When the switching signal of 2 is input,
For example, in order to output character information such as mail, character information is output on a vertically long (vertical direction) screen.
In the present embodiment, the flexible substrate 10, the rotating member 11, the fixed shaft 12, and the support member 13 constitute a variable means.

Further, the above-mentioned detection unit 21, control unit 22 and switching unit 23 are provided on the printed circuit board 18, and the operation unit main body is provided on the above-mentioned electronic components and the liquid crystal display panel 2 provided on the printed circuit board 18. Power is supplied from the battery 14 built in the unit 3.

Next, the operation will be described.

First, when it is desired to display an image on a horizontally long screen like a television image, by touching the anti-slip portion 5 with a finger, the operation portion 4 is moved to the first position as shown in FIG. 2 (a). Rotate to. At this time, since the detection unit 21 detects the magnet, it outputs a detection signal to the control unit 22. At this time, since the control unit 22 outputs the first switching signal to the switching unit 23, the switching unit 23 causes the liquid crystal display panel 2 to have a horizontally long screen (that is, the left and right direction of the television image is horizontally long). Output the image in the same direction as the horizontal direction of the screen.

That is, when the operation section 4 is rotated to the first position, the orientation of the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 2 is automatically switched to the same direction as the orientation of the operation section 4.

When it is desired to display characters on a vertically long screen like a mail, the operation unit 4 is used as shown in FIG. 2 (b).
Is rotated to the second position. At this time, since the detection unit 21 does not detect the magnet, the detection signal is not output to the control unit 22.
At this time, since the control unit 22 outputs the second switching signal to the switching unit 23, the switching unit 23 causes the vertical direction of the liquid crystal display panel 2 to be a vertically long screen (that is, the character arrangement direction is a vertically long screen). (Orthogonal direction to the vertical direction of) character is output.

That is, when the operating section 4 is rotated to the second position, the orientation of the characters displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 2 is automatically switched to the same direction as the operating section 4.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the display unit main body 1 provided with the liquid crystal display panel 2 capable of displaying the character information and the image information, and the operation unit 4 having the mechanical push button 4a are provided and displayed. Since the operation unit main body 3 connected to the operation unit main body 1 via the hinge 8 is provided, the operation unit 4 and the liquid crystal display panel 2 can be separated, and the liquid crystal display panel 2 becomes dirty when the operation unit 4 is operated. It is possible to prevent this from occurring and display the image clearly.

Further, since the changing means for changing the direction of the operation section 4 with respect to the operation section main body 3 is provided, the direction of the operation section 4 can be changed with respect to the direction of the liquid crystal display panel 2. Therefore, when displaying a television image, the operation unit 4
If the direction of the liquid crystal display panel 2 and the direction of the liquid crystal display panel 2 are the same, the operability when operating the operation unit 4 can be improved.

At this time, if the television screen is displayed so as to be a horizontally long screen, the television image can be displayed clearly.

When transmitting character information such as a mail, the liquid crystal display panel 2 is used to display the mail in a direction easy for the user to see, for example, a portrait screen, or to input characters for mail transmission. If the direction of the operation unit 4 and the direction of the operation unit 4 are the same, the operability when operating the operation unit 4 can be improved.

Since the mobile phone is foldable, the portability of the mobile phone can be improved.

When the operation unit 4 is changed to the first position or the second position, the direction of the character information or the image information displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 2 is switched to the same direction as the operation unit 4. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a display screen that is easy to see while improving the operability of the operation unit.

Further, the operating portion 4 is set to the first position and the second position.
Since the orientation of the character information or the image information displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 2 is switched in conjunction with the switching to the position of, the orientation of the character information or the image information is changed when the orientation of the operation unit 4 is switched. Since it is possible to automatically switch to the same direction as the operating section, it is possible to easily obtain a display screen that is easy to see while further improving the operability of the operating section.

In the present embodiment, the anti-slip portion 5 is provided on the operation surface of the operation portion 4 for rotating the operation portion 4, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is shown in FIG. It may be provided on the back side of the operation unit as shown by the line.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the portable terminal according to the present invention. Note that the present embodiment is characterized in that a touch panel is provided instead of the mechanical operation unit 4,
The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 9, a touch panel 31 is provided on the operation section main body 3 so that the display screen can be switched so that the orientation of the display screen is at the first position and the second position. Has become. Further, the touch panel 31 is provided with pressing portions 31a and 31b for changing the direction, and by pressing the pressing portions 31a and 31b,
The orientation of the touch panel 31 is changed.

Next, the operation will be described.

When it is desired to display an image on a horizontally long screen such as a television image, by pressing the pressing portion 31a,
As shown in FIG. 9A, the display screen of the touch panel 31 is changed to the first position. At this time, the detection unit 21 causes the pressing unit 31a to
In order to detect the signal output from, the detection signal is output to the control unit 22. At this time, since the control unit 22 outputs the first switching signal to the switching unit 23, the switching unit 23 causes the liquid crystal display panel 2 to operate.
The image is output so that the vertical direction becomes a horizontally long screen.

That is, when the orientation of the operation unit 4 is changed to the first position, the orientation of the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 2 is automatically switched to the same direction as the orientation of the operation unit 4.

Further, when it is desired to display an image on a vertically long screen like a character of a mail, by pressing the pressing portion 31b, the second screen of the display screen of the touch panel 31 is displayed as shown in FIG. 9B. Change to position. At this time, since the detection unit 21 detects the signal output from the pressing unit 31b, the control unit 22
The detection signal is output to. At this time, the control unit 22 controls the switching unit 23.
In order to output the second switching signal, the switching unit 23 outputs the characters so that the liquid crystal display panel 2 has a vertically long screen.

That is, when the orientation of the operating portion 4 is changed to the second position, the orientation of the characters displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 2 is automatically switched to the same orientation as the operating portion 4.

Even in this case, the same effects as those described above can be obtained.

In any of the mobile phones of the above-mentioned embodiments, an external trackball unit 41 may be provided as shown in FIG. 10, and the mobile phone may be operated by the trackball unit 41.

Since the trackball unit 41 is externally attached, the following effects can be obtained.

That is, in order to improve the operability of the rotary type selection / confirmation operation unit such as a trackball, the rotation unit which is projected a little higher than the surroundings is exposed to the outside.

However, the two housings (display unit main body 1
In a foldable housing in which the operation section main body 3) and the operation section main body 3) are folded so as to overlap with each other, when a trackball is arranged on the surface of one housing that is overlapped with the surface of the other housing, that is, the overlapping surface, the other The overlapping surface of the housing may come into contact with the rotating portion and be damaged.

Therefore, for example, it is necessary to form a concave portion on the overlapping surface of the other casing to avoid the occurrence of scratches, and it is necessary to have a structure for avoiding the contact of the trackball. However, this causes a problem that the recess cannot be formed in the housing unless the display portion of the housing is made small.

In this embodiment, the trackball unit
Since the 41 is externally attached, the display screen can be prevented from being narrowed and can be used only when necessary.

[0067]

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the display unit from becoming dirty and display the image clearly, and the user can freely set the orientation of the operation unit according to the orientation of the displayed image. It is possible to provide a mobile terminal having excellent portability that can improve operability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a mobile terminal according to the present invention (a) a top view of the mobile phone of the first embodiment when folded (b) a mobile phone of the first embodiment when folded Its bottom view

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a state in which the operation unit of the mobile phone of the first embodiment of the mobile terminal according to the present invention is rotated to a first position, and FIG. 2B is a first view of the mobile terminal according to the present invention. The figure which shows the state which rotated the operation part of the mobile telephone of embodiment to the 2nd position.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a state where the antenna of the mobile phone of the first embodiment is housed, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a state where the antenna of the mobile phone of the first embodiment is extended.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the mobile phone of the first embodiment of the mobile terminal according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the mobile terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention when the mobile phone is opened.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the mobile terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention when the mobile phone is opened.

FIG. 7A is an external view of the flexible connector of the first embodiment of the mobile terminal according to the present invention, and FIG. 7B is a perspective view showing the operation portion of the first embodiment of the mobile terminal according to the present invention at the first position and the second position. Diagram showing the state of the flexible connector when rotated to the position

FIG. 8 is a simplified block diagram of the printed circuit board of the first embodiment of the mobile terminal according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of a mobile terminal according to the present invention (a) a diagram showing a state in which an operation unit of a mobile phone of the second embodiment is changed to a first position (b) a second embodiment Showing a state in which the operation unit of the mobile phone is changed to the second position

10A and 10B are diagrams showing a mobile phone including a trackball unit of the mobile terminal according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Display unit body 2 Liquid crystal display panel (display section) 3 Operation unit body 4 operation part 8 hinges 10 Flexible board (variable means) 11 Rotating member (variable means) 12 Fixed axis (variable means) 13 Support member (variable means)

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Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A fold-up comprising a display unit main body provided with a display unit capable of displaying character information and image information, and an operation unit main body provided with an operation unit and connected to the display unit main body via a hinge. A mobile terminal of a type, comprising a varying means that is capable of varying the direction of the operation section with respect to the operation section main body. 2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit includes a mechanical push button. 3. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is a touch panel. 4. The operation section is firstly arranged by the changing means.
When the position is changed to or the second position,
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the direction of the character information or the image information displayed on the display unit is switched to the same direction as the operation unit. 5. The operating section is first moved by the changing means.
5. The mobile terminal according to claim 4, wherein the orientation of the character information or the image information displayed on the display unit is switched in association with the switching between the position and the second position.