JP2004007147A - Portable communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the appearance of a portable communication terminal by only making a light guiding part shine by shielding leakage light when a light source emits light, and at the same time, to reduce man-hours for assembling the terminal by reducing the number of parts. <P>SOLUTION: The portable communication terminal is provided with an LED 11 provided in a second enclosure 2 and LED light emitting sections 9 and 10 respectively composed of light guiding members 12 and 13 which guide the light emitted from the LED 11 to the outside of the second enclosure 2, and light shielding members 14 and 15 integrally formed with outer peripheral edges of the members 12 and 13. The light shielding members 14 and 15 do not transmit visible light but infrared rays. Since the members 14 and 15 which do not transmit visible light but infrared rays are integrally formed with the outer peripheral edges of the light guiding members 12 and 13, the leakage light from the members 12 and 13 can be shielded, and at the same time, the number of parts can also be reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone, for example, and more particularly to a light-shielding technology for blocking light leakage when a light source such as a light emitting diode (LED) provided in a housing emits light.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, one of the functions of a mobile phone is a charge display function. The charge display function is such that when a mobile phone is set in a charger, an LED light emitting unit provided in the housing is turned on to indicate to the user that the mobile phone is being charged.
[0003]
The LED light emitting unit includes an LED, which is a light source provided in the housing, and a light guide member for guiding light emitted by the LED to the outside of the housing. The light guide member is formed of, for example, milk-white acrylic, and is attached to a hole formed in a part of the housing.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the mobile phone having the above-described configuration, not only the light guide member for guiding the light of the LED but also the housing portion, which is the periphery thereof, dim. In particular, in the dark, light leakage is further emphasized. As described above, when the light of the LED leaks to a portion other than the light guide member, the appearance of the appearance becomes poor.
[0005]
Conventionally, in order to prevent light leakage, a special component for preventing light leakage has been separately attached or pasted around the LED. However, if the light leakage preventing parts are separately prepared, not only the number of parts increases, but also the assembling work of the light leakage preventing parts becomes troublesome.
[0006]
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and blocks light leakage when a light source emits light, improves the appearance by illuminating only the light guide portion, and reduces the number of parts to reduce the number of assembly steps. An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication terminal capable of reducing the number of mobile terminals.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The portable communication terminal of the present invention includes a light source provided in the housing, a light guide member for guiding light from the light source to the outside of the housing, and a light shielding member integrally formed on at least an outer peripheral edge of the light guide member. And a light-emitting unit comprising: The light shielding member does not transmit visible light but transmits infrared light.
[0008]
According to the portable communication terminal of the present invention, since the light shielding member is integrally formed on the outer peripheral edge of the light guide member, the number of components can be reduced. Further, since the light blocking member does not transmit visible light, light from the light source is blocked by the light blocking member and does not leak out of the housing from the periphery of the light guide member.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a mobile phone which is one of mobile communication terminals.
[0010]
[Configuration of mobile phone]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mobile phone according to the present embodiment has a first housing 1 and a second housing which is folded in two so as to be folded on the first housing 1. 2 is a so-called foldable mobile phone.
[0011]
The first housing 1 and the second housing 2 are rotatable with each other at one end side via a connecting portion (hinge portion) 3. Used in the state. For example, this foldable mobile phone is used in the folded state shown in FIG. 1 when charging or not making a call, and is used in the open state shown in FIG. 2 when making a call or sending / receiving a mail.
[0012]
The first housing 1 includes, for example, an audio input / output unit, a digital signal processing unit, an RF (Radio Frequency) input / output unit, a control unit, a power supply unit, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2A, operation units such as a key button 4 and a jog dial 5 are provided on an upper surface of the first housing 1 (a surface facing the second housing 2). I have.
[0013]
The second housing 2 is provided with, for example, liquid crystal display devices (LCD units) 6 and 7 as image display units, an antenna 8, LED light emitting units 9 and 10 as light emitting units, and the like. The liquid crystal display devices 6 and 7 are provided on a surface 2a on the side overlapping the first housing 1 and on a back surface 2b on the opposite side. The LED light emitting portions 9 and 10 are provided on the front end of the second housing 2 and on the surface 2a near the front end, respectively.
[0014]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the LED light emitting units 9 and 10 include an LED 11 as a light source and a light guide member 12 that guides light emitted by the LED 11 from the inside of the second housing 2 to the outside. , 13 and light shielding members 14, 15 integrally formed on the outer peripheral edges of the light guide members 12, 13.
[0015]
The LED 11 functions as a common light source for the two LED light emitting units 9 and 10 and is provided on a flexible printed wiring board 16. Further, next to the LED 11, for example, an infrared ray for transmitting and receiving data such as an address and a telephone number between a personal computer and a cellular phone or between cellular phones by infrared communication (infrared communication based on IrDA optical communication standard). The transmitting section 17 is provided on the printed wiring board 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the printed wiring board 16 provided with the LED 11 and the infrared transmitting section 17 is fixed to the inner surface of the lower half 2B of the upper half 2A and the lower half 2B constituting the second housing 2. I have.
[0016]
In addition, the infrared communication function built into the mobile phone, in addition to the above-described functions, communicates with home appliances such as a microwave oven and a refrigerator, for example, and connects these home appliances to the Internet. It has a function and a function as a remote controller of various audio devices such as a video tape recorder and a CD player.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the light guide member 12 and the light shielding member 14 provided at the end of the second housing 2 constitute a united panel 18 by molding different resin materials in two colors. I do. As shown in FIG. 4, the panel 18 covers the LED 11 and the infrared transmitter 17 which are visible inside the opening 19 formed at the end of the second housing 2 so as to cover the second housing 2. It is attached. The light guide member 12 constituting the panel 18 is formed at a position facing the position where the LEDs 11 are provided, and is formed in a substantially elongated rectangular shape from the tip of the second housing 2 to the back surface 2b. Have been. The light blocking member 14 is formed so as to surround the outer periphery of the light guide member 12.
[0018]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the light guide member 13 and the light shielding member 15 provided on the front surface 2a near the front end of the second housing 2 are also formed of two different resin materials in the same manner as the panel 18. Thus, the integrated chip 20 is formed. The light guide member 13 constituting the chip 20 has a substantially cylindrical shape to be inserted into a circular hole 21 formed in the lower half 2B. The light shielding member 15 is formed as a flat plate surrounding one end side of the light guide member 13 having a cylindrical shape.
[0019]
The light guide members 12 and 13 constituting the panel 18 and the chip 20 are made of a material that can guide the light of the LED 11 from the inside of the second housing 2 to the outside, for example, acrylic. On the other hand, when the LED 11 emits light, the light shielding members 14 and 15 prevent the light of the LED 11 from leaking from the outer periphery of the light guide members 12 and 13 (that is, prevent transmission of visible light) and transmit infrared light. A material capable of transmitting infrared rays emitted from the unit 17, for example, polycarbonate is used.
[0020]
In particular, for the light shielding members 14 and 15, it is desirable to use a resin material that transmits about 90% of the infrared rays when the infrared rays having an IrDA operating wavelength of 870 to 880 nm are used. In the present embodiment, as an example satisfying this condition, for example, a black polycarbonate having a light transmittance curve shown in FIG. 8 is used. 8, line C is a curve when the thickness of the light shielding members 14 and 15 is 1 mm, and line D is a curve when the thickness of the light shielding members 14 and 15 is 2 mm.
[0021]
To form the panel 18 and the chip 20 made of such different materials, two-color molding is performed using acrylic on the primary side and polycarbonate on the secondary side.
[0022]
In addition, by using the light shielding members 14 and 15 that do not transmit visible light and transmit infrared light, data transmission and reception using infrared light is stabilized, and a stable communication state can be realized not only indoors but also outdoors. .
[0023]
[Operation and Effect of Embodiment]
In the mobile phone configured as described above, when the mobile phone is placed on a charger to charge a power supply (battery) built in the first housing 1, the LED 11 emits light, and the user operates the battery. Is known from the light.
[0024]
At this time, since a light shielding member 14 that does not transmit visible light but transmits infrared light is formed by two-color molding around the light guide member 12, light from the LED 11 is blocked by the light shielding member 14, There is no leakage from the portion other than the light guide member 12 to the outside of the second housing 2. Therefore, only the portion where the light guide member 12 is provided shines, and the appearance is improved. Also, when the second housing 2 is opened with the mobile phone placed on the charger, the LED light emitting unit 10 provided on the surface 2a of the second housing 2 emits light. Also in this case, similarly, the light of the LED 11 does not leak from portions other than the light guide member 13.
[0025]
When the mobile phone is in the power saving mode (sleep mode), the LED light emitting units 9 and 10 blink. The power saving mode means that when the power is on (when the liquid crystal display units of the liquid crystal display devices 6 and 7 are lit), the second housing 2 is opened for a predetermined time as shown in FIG. After that, the liquid crystal display becomes dark. At that time, the LED light-emitting units 9 and 10 blink to notify the user that the power of the mobile phone is turned on. In this power saving mode, the light-shielding member 15 that does not transmit visible light and transmits infrared light is formed by two-color molding around the light-guiding member 13. The LED light does not leak outside the second housing 2.
[0026]
Further, since the infrared transmitter 17 is provided on the tip side of the second housing 2 in which the liquid crystal display devices 6 and 7 are provided, the infrared transmitter 17 is used for communication with another mobile phone, for example. Since the unit 17 can be freely directed to an arbitrary position, there is an advantage that communication is easy.
[0027]
The specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes can be made.
[0028]
For example, in the above-described embodiment, a foldable mobile phone has been described as an example. However, the present invention may be applied to a non-foldable straight type mobile phone, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or the like. The same operation and effect can be obtained when applied to a mobile communication terminal. Further, in the present embodiment, the LED is used as the light source, but there is no particular limitation to the LED.
[0029]
In the above-described embodiment, the LED light emitting units 9 and 10 and the infrared transmitting unit 17 are built in the second housing 2. However, these LED light emitting units 9 and 10 and the infrared transmitting unit 17 are different from a mobile phone. A separate external module may be provided, and this module may be used by connecting to an external connection terminal of the mobile phone.
[0030]
In the above-described embodiment, the light guide member 12 for guiding the light from the LED 11 (light source) to the back surface 2b of the second housing 2 and the light guide member 13 for guiding the light to the front surface 2a are separate components. Although configured, the shape may be extended from the front surface 2a to the back surface 2b using one light guide member. Of course, even if it has not only two but also a plurality of light guide members, it goes without saying that there is no problem as long as it is at a position visible from both the front surface 2a and the back surface 2b.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, since a light-blocking member that does not transmit visible light and transmits infrared light is integrally formed on the outer peripheral edge of the light-guiding member, light from the light source is blocked by the light-blocking member, Leakage from the periphery of the optical member to the outside of the housing can be prevented. Therefore, only the portion where the light guide member is provided can be illuminated, and the appearance can be improved.
[0032]
Further, according to the present invention, since the light shielding member is integrally formed on the outer peripheral edge of the light guide member, it is not necessary to separately prepare a light leakage preventing component, and the number of components can be reduced. The work of assembling the portable communication terminal can also be facilitated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a mobile phone according to an embodiment is folded in two.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the mobile phone according to the present embodiment is opened.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an LED light emitting unit built in a second housing.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing a state where a panel of an LED light emitting unit is removed.
5A and 5B are diagrams showing a panel of an LED light emitting unit, wherein FIG. 5A is a front view, FIG. 5B is a plan view, and FIG. 5C is a right side view.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 5 (b).
7A and 7B are diagrams showing a chip of the LED light emitting unit, wherein FIG. 7A is a perspective view when viewed from above, FIG. 7B is a perspective view when viewed from below, and FIG. It is sectional drawing in the -B line position.
FIG. 8 is a view showing a light transmittance curve of a polycarbonate used in the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... 1st housing | casing, 2 ... 2nd housing | casing, 6, 7 ... Liquid crystal display device, 9, 10 ... LED light-emitting part, 11 ... LED (light source), 12, 13 ... Light guide member, 14, 15 ... light shielding member, 17 ... infrared ray transmitting section, 18 ... panel, 20 ... chip

Claims (5)

A light source provided in the housing,
A light guide member for guiding light from the light source to the outside of the housing,
A light-blocking member formed integrally with at least the outer peripheral edge of the light guide member and not transmitting visible light and transmitting infrared light.
A mobile communication terminal comprising a light emitting unit comprising: The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1,
The mobile communication terminal, wherein the light guide member and the light shielding member are integrated by two-color molding. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1,
A portable communication terminal, wherein an infrared transmitting unit that transmits infrared light through the light blocking member is provided in the housing. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 3, wherein
A portable communication terminal, wherein the light emitting unit is provided on a tip side of the housing. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1,
The portable communication terminal, wherein the light guide member is arranged so that light from the light source can be seen from a front surface and a back surface of the housing.

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