JP2003218988A - Information terminal having incoming call recognition function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information terminal having an incoming call recognition function that allows a carrying person to properly recognize tactile and visual sensation while adopting an outer shape without no projected part and losing any carrying performance. <P>SOLUTION: An actuator 3 is placed under a main body 10 of a mobile phone 1. In the actuator 3, a torque of a small-sized motor 30 is delivered to a gear box 31 and a slider 33 connected to a rotating output shaft 32 slidably moves on the output shaft 32. A moving body 2 is formed cylindrical by an elastic member such as rubber and the tail end is fixed to a connection socket 20. An opening 11 to which the moving body 2 is fitted is provided to a side face of the main body 10 and the connection socket 20 is connected to the slider 33. When a call signal or the like arrives in a phone function part, a drive controller receives the incoming call signal and commands the actuator 3 for driving. The actuator 3 is started and the moving body 22 is projected from the opening 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information terminal having an incoming call recognition function, and more specifically, it is installed in an information terminal for portable use such as a mobile phone, a PDA, a pager and the like to notify a signal such as an incoming call. To improve the incoming call recognition function.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Recently, mobile phones, PDAs (Personal D
igital Assistant), portable devices such as pagers,
It is widely used as a so-called information terminal. For mobile phones and the like, there has been a proposal to notify an incoming call by a recognition sign other than sound in response to a request for public manners, and for example, it has a function (manner mode) to notify an incoming call by generating vibration. However, the notification by vibration cannot react to weak vibration because the tactile sensation of the person who feels this is unfortunately insensitive. On the other hand, intensifying the vibration in order to reliably detect it requires the use of a high-output vibration source, which increases power consumption and hinders downsizing and weight reduction as a portable device.

There is also a proposal to notify by a recognition sign other than sound or vibration. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-921
In the publications such as 64, an arm protruding from the main body of the device,
An informing device that moves to change the position when a call arrives is shown. In this device, when the moving arm hits the wearer, the user knows it tactually, and the vertical position of the arm changes, so that visual notification can be made.

However, the alarm device disclosed in the above publication has a problem that it is bulky when carried because the arm is exposed from the main body of the device, and the arm is moved by moving the arm up and down. Is too large, and there is a concern that it will hit the wearer strongly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and adopt an outer shape that does not impair portability without a protruding portion, and The purpose is to provide an information terminal with an incoming call recognition function that can appropriately provide tactile and visual notification.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an information terminal having an incoming call recognition function according to the present invention is a portable device such as a mobile phone, a PDA, a pager and the like, which receives a call signal. Based on the premise, a movable body that moves in and out of the main body of the information terminal, an actuator that drives the movable body, and a control unit that receives the incoming call signal or the like and instructs the actuator to drive are configured. . And, preferably, the movable body,
It is formed by an elastic member such as rubber.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when an incoming call signal or the like is received, the movable body is projected from the main body of the information terminal, so that the portable body can be pressed against the wearer and tactilely recognized. Further, if the information terminal is placed on a table or the like, the movable body protruding from the main body can be seen, so that the incoming call can be visually recognized.

Also, since the movable body is formed of an elastic member, it can flexibly receive external force while protruding from the main body of the information terminal, can prevent excessive force from being applied to each part of the mechanism, and can be put in a pocket or the like. It can prevent damage when carrying it.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the mobile phone 1, which is an information terminal, includes an ordinary telephone function section and an incoming call recognition function section that is a main part of the present invention.

The incoming call recognition function section includes a movable body 2, an actuator 3 and a drive controller 4 shown in FIG. 2, and when an incoming call signal or the like is received, the movable body 2 is moved from the main body 10 of the device. Make it stick out.

The actuator 3 comprises a small motor 30 and a gear box 31, and is arranged at the bottom of the main body 10. The rotational force is transmitted to the gearbox 31 by rotating the small motor 30, and the gearbox 31
The output shaft 32 protruding from the shaft rotates, and the slider 33 linked to the output shaft 32 slides on the output shaft 32. A linear actuator that linearly drives the output shaft in the axial direction may be used as the actuator 3.

The movable body 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape by an elastic member such as rubber, and its rear end is fixed to the connecting socket 20. Then, an opening 11 into which the movable body 2 is fitted is provided on the side surface of the main body 10, the connecting socket 20 is linked to the slider 33 of the actuator 3, and the movable body 2 moves in and out of the opening 11 by driving the actuator 3. It is configured to do. The movable body 2 is housed in the main body 10 at a normal time when there is no incoming call, and is formed so that the front end surface of the movable body 2 coincides with the side surface at the opening 11.

The drive controller 4 receives an incoming call signal or the like from the telephone function unit and instructs the actuator 3 to drive.

That is, when the telephone function unit receives an incoming call signal or the like, the drive controller 4 inputs the incoming call signal to instruct the actuator 3 to drive, as shown in FIG. Then, the actuator 3 is activated, so that the movable body 2 projects from the opening 11 on the side surface of the main body 10.

As described above, when a call signal or the like is received by the telephone function unit, the movable body 2 projects from the opening 11 on the side surface of the main body 10, so that the movable body 2 can be pressed against the wearer and tactilely recognized. . Further, if the mobile phone 1 is placed on a table or the like, the movable body 2 protruding from the side surface of the main body 10 can be seen, so that the incoming call can be visually recognized. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately provide tactile and visual notification to the wearer.

In normal times, the movable body 2 is the main body 10
Since there is no protruding portion on the outside as the incoming call recognition function unit, the portability can be kept good. Further, in this case, since the movable body 2 is formed of an elastic member, it is possible to flexibly receive an external force while protruding from the main body 10 and prevent unnecessary force from being applied to each part of the mechanism. Even if you carry it, you can prevent damage.

In this embodiment, the movable body 2 is attached to the main body 1
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be arranged in another portion.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the substantially rod-shaped movable body 22 is configured to protrude from the back surface of the main body 10. That is, the movable body 22 is vertically arranged on the back surface of the main body 10, the upper end of the movable body 22 is supported by the rotary shaft 21, and is rotated by an actuator (small motor) not shown.

When the telephone function unit receives an incoming call signal or the like, the drive controller 4 shown in FIG. 2 inputs the incoming call signal to instruct the actuator to drive. Then, the actuator is activated, which causes the movable body 22 to move to the main body 1
0 It will stick out from the opening on the back. In addition, the movable body 2
No. 2 is housed in the main body 10 at a normal time when there is no incoming call, and the side surface of the movable body 22 is adapted to coincide with the back surface at the opening.

As described above, the movable body 22 is the mobile phone 1
When the mobile phone 22 is carried in a chest pocket and is carried, for example, the movable body 22 projects and the chest pocket swells, which the wearer can easily recognize. In addition, other configurations and operational effects are similar to those of the above-described first embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the movable body 23 having a substantially elliptical planar outer shape is configured to protrude from the side surface of the main body 10. In other words, the movable body 23 is arranged in the lower part of the main body 10, and its eccentric position is supported by the rotary shaft 21,
It is designed to be rotated by the actuator 5.

When the telephone function unit receives an incoming call signal or the like, the drive controller 4 shown in FIG. 2 inputs the incoming call signal and instructs the actuator 5 to drive. Then, the actuator 5 is activated, whereby the movable body 2
3 will protrude from the opening on the side surface of the main body 10.

Further, the movable body 23 is housed in the main body 10 in the normal state when there is no incoming call, and since the rotary shaft 21 is provided at the eccentric position, the movable body 23 is set to be moved by an appropriate amount around the shaft.

In this case, when an incoming call is received by the telephone function unit, the movable body 23 comes out from the opening on the side surface of the main body 10, so that the operation of pressing against the wearer gradually progresses, and the wearer is notified. Can be done softly. In addition, other configurations and operational effects are the same as those of the above-described embodiments.

FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, the movable body 24 having a substantially columnar shape is projected from the side surface of the main body 10.
The opening on the side is covered with a flexible sheet material 6. That is, the movable body 24 is arranged laterally below the main body 10 and is linearly driven by a linear actuator (not shown). Then, a flexible sheet material 6 is attached to the opening on the side surface of the main body 10, and the sheet material 6 is formed of, for example, rubber or the like.

The movable body 24 is housed in the main body 10 at a normal time when there is no incoming call, and as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the tip end surface of the movable body 24 is set so as to coincide with the side surface at the opening. .

When the telephone function unit receives an incoming call signal or the like, the drive controller 4 shown in FIG. 2 inputs the incoming call signal to instruct the actuator to drive. Then, the actuator is activated, whereby the movable body 24
The sheet material 6 is pushed out from the opening on the side surface of the main body 10 and protrudes (FIG. 5B).

As described above, since the flexible sheet material 6 is attached to the opening on the side surface of the main body 10, it is possible to prevent foreign matter, dust and the like from entering through the opening portion, and as a result, the respective mechanisms and electronic circuits are It is possible to prevent breakdown due to foreign matter, dust, etc. In addition, other configurations and operational effects are the same as those of the above-described embodiments.

[0029]

As described above, in the information terminal having the incoming call recognition function according to the present invention, when an incoming call signal is received,
Since the movable body sticks out from the body of the information terminal, it can be tactilely recognized by being pushed to the wearer, and if the information terminal is placed on a table or the like, the movable body sticking out of the body can be seen and the incoming call can be visually recognized. it can. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately provide tactile and visual notification to the wearer.

Since the movable body is normally housed in the main body, there is no projecting portion on the outside as the incoming call recognition function section, and good portability can be maintained.

Further, since the movable body is formed of an elastic member, it is possible to flexibly receive an external force in a state of protruding from the main body of the information terminal, to prevent unnecessary force from being applied to each part of the mechanism, and to put it in a pocket or the like. It can prevent damage when carrying it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a front view of a mobile phone to which the present invention has been applied. (B) is the side view.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an incoming call recognition function unit.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a mobile phone showing another example of a movable body portion.

FIG. 4A is a front view of a mobile phone showing another example of the movable body portion. (B) is the side view.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a mobile phone showing another example of a movable body portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 mobile phone 2,22,23,24 Movable body 3,5 actuator 4 Drive controller 6 sheet materials 10 body 11 openings 20 connection sockets 21 rotation axis 30 small motors 31 gearbox 32 output shaft 33 slider

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An information terminal, which is a portable device such as a mobile phone, a PDA, a pager, and which receives a call signal, has a movable body that moves in and out of the body of the information terminal, an actuator that drives the movable body, and the call. An information terminal having an incoming call recognition function, comprising: a control unit for receiving an incoming call such as a signal to instruct the actuator to drive. 2. The information terminal having an incoming call recognition function according to claim 1, wherein the movable body is formed of an elastic member such as rubber.