JP2005175555A - Mobile communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile communication apparatus with excellent operability without increasing parts for fingerprint reading operations. <P>SOLUTION: The mobile communication apparatus has a fingerprint reading means for reading fingerprint data, the fingerprint reading means is separated into a plurality of regions, and when any of the divided regions is depressed, optional input instruction contents are provided in accordance with the depressed region. Further, the fingerprint reading means is characterized in the configuration that a depression amount is detected and second input instruction contents different from the optional input instruction contents are obtained depending on the depression amount. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable communication device incorporating a fingerprint authentication function.

  In mobile communication devices, fingerprint authentication using a fingerprint sensor has been used as an authentication means for preventing unauthorized use, instead of inputting a personal identification number.

  On the other hand, miniaturization of mobile communication devices is required, and miniaturization of key buttons for reading fingerprints is also required. A mobile wireless device is described in which a fingerprint sensor is divided into a plurality of keys in order to accurately authenticate a fingerprint even when a key mounted with the downsizing of a mobile communication device is reduced. (For example, see Patent Document 1)

JP 2002-335324 A

  In mobile communication devices, when selecting a function from the menu, the cursor is moved and selected, but if there are many menu items, the selection may take a long time, and it is possible to change the movement speed of the cursor. This is important for usability. However, the prior art described in Patent Document 1 can only provide one input instruction for each area of the fingerprint sensor, and does not consider a method for changing the moving speed of the cursor. It was. In addition, when the number of divided areas is increased to cope with an increase in the number of buttons, the area becomes smaller, which causes a problem that operability and usability are poor.

  On the other hand, since the number of buttons is limited in the mobile communication device, the function is displayed on the menu and selected from the menu to give an input instruction. For this reason, operability and usability are poor. However, the prior art described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the operability is poor because it is not considered to change the input instruction contents of the fingerprint sensor by a predetermined operation. Further, if the number of divided areas is increased in order to increase the number of buttons, the area becomes smaller and the operability becomes worse.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a portable communication device with good operability.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the present invention, in the portable communication device with a fingerprint authentication function having a fingerprint reader that reads fingerprint data, the fingerprint reader is divided into a plurality of regions, and the divided regions are divided. When is pressed, the content of the input instruction is arbitrary depending on the pressed area.

  According to the present invention, a mobile communication device with good operability can be provided.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a portable communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. On the main body 1 of the portable communication device, menus, photo data, etc. are displayed using an operation button unit 2 composed of a call button and an end button, numeric buttons from 0 to 9, a clear button, and a liquid crystal panel. A liquid crystal display unit 3 for performing the above and an information input unit 4 including a fingerprint sensor for fingerprint authentication are arranged.

  The information input unit 4 is divided into a plurality of areas (areas), and the input instruction content can be set for each divided area. For example, it can be used as an input means such as pointing input for moving a cursor. In this embodiment, a case where a capacitance type pressure sensor system is used as a fingerprint sensor will be described as an example. However, a system for reading an image of a fingerprint by an optical method, or a pressure sensor for detecting pressure when touched A method or the like may be used.

  The pointing input will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, a conventional pointing button will be described. FIG. 3 shows an internal configuration diagram of a conventional pointing button. As shown in this figure, up and down movement buttons 21 and 23, left and right movement buttons 22 and 24, and an operation confirmation button 25 are arranged at the center of these buttons, and each button is constituted by an independent button. By operating these buttons, the cursor displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display unit 3 is moved and the operation is confirmed. The button surface 26 and push switches 27, 28, and 29 are mounted on the surface of the substrate 30.

  Next, the information input unit 4 of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 shows the fingerprint sensor unit of the information input unit 4 according to the present embodiment. The detection area of the information input unit 4 is subdivided as shown in FIG. 2, and the input instruction content is set so that the cursor movement operation and the determination button operation in the vertical and horizontal directions can be performed at the touched finger position. . The contact detection on the fingerprint sensor is realized by dividing the surface of the fingerprint sensor and detecting the top, bottom, left, right, and center contact positions based on the detected coordinates, and the moving direction is determined by the contact position when pressed. Here, when the upper part 11 of the fingerprint sensor is touched, the cursor is moved upward, when the lower part 14 is touched, the cursor is moved downward, when the right side 13 is touched, the cursor is moved rightward, and the left side 15 When touched, the cursor is moved leftward, and when the center portion 12 is touched, the operation is determined.

  Next, the function of changing the moving speed of the cursor and the call volume by pressing, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, a pressure sensor type fingerprint sensor will be described with reference to FIG. 4A is a diagram in which a finger is brought into contact with the fingerprint sensor, and FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of the fingerprint portion. FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the screen display during menu display. In general, the surface portion 72 of the electrostatic capacitance type fingerprint sensor has a large number of small electrodes arranged under a hard surface protective film. When a dielectric, for example, a fingerprint 71 of a finger is brought into contact with these electrodes, the unevenness causes charge. There are places where there are many and few places. In the “convex” portion 76 of the fingerprint, since the electrode and the surface (dielectric) of the fingerprint are close, a large amount of charge is generated (state indicated by 75). Since the “concave” portion 73 is away from the electrode, the amount of electric charge is small (indicated by 74). If the fingerprint surface of the finger is slightly lifted with respect to the fingerprint sensor, the distance between the electrode and the fingerprint surface (dielectric material) increases, so the amount of charge decreases. The "" portion becomes closer and the amount of charge increases. For this reason, the amount of charge changes depending on the pressure applied to the fingerprint, which is converted into a voltage value, and further converted into digital data by converting this voltage value into digital data. The pressing amount can be detected by reading the change amount of the numerical value. In this embodiment, when the cursor is moved to select a function on the menu display 50 displaying the function based on the detected pressing amount, as shown in FIG. The cursor can be moved instantaneously from the cursor position (1. call) to the selected position two ahead (3. clear) or three ahead (4. mail).

  In addition, the amount of pressure change can be detected and the volume during a call can be adjusted. For example, when it is desired to increase the volume, if the finger pressure is increased, the call volume level can be changed based on the detected pressing amount. The change of the input instruction content from pointing input to volume control input will be described later.

  Next, the processing flow for setting the pressing range and the operation content will be described. FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a flowchart for setting the pressing range and processing of the operation content. When the user opens the device main body 1 (S1), the fingerprint authentication mode is activated (S2). When the fingerprint registration determination (S3) is finished and it is determined that there is registration, the operation button unit 2 and other locks are released (S4), and the information input unit 4 is shifted to pointing input (S5). Thereafter, in order to absorb individual differences in pressing, the maximum and minimum pressing values are set (S31). The pressure setting is “0” when the finger is not in contact with the fingerprint sensor, “1” when the finger is lightest, and “10” when the finger is most strongly applied. Set based on. still. If the user's fingerprint cannot be compared with the registered fingerprint in S3, the subsequent button operation is not accepted (S9). For example, “You are not registered and this machine is used on the display screen. Unregistered message is displayed, prompting you to be unable to use. In the case of an unregistered person, no further button operation is accepted.

  After the setting of S31, it is determined whether or not the central portion 12 of the information input unit 4 has been pressed for a long time (S38). If the key is pressed for a long time, the sound volume adjustment mode (S33) is entered. Here, the finger pressure can be changed, and the sound volume can be lowered (S34) when lightly touched, and the sound volume can be raised (S35) when strongly touched. After the volume is set, the central portion 12 of the information input unit 4 is pressed again for a long time to end the volume setting mode and return to the pointing input operation. If the pointing input is not pressed for a long time in S38 and the pointing input is pressed, the pressing of the pointing input is determined (S32). When the finger is strongly touched, the cursor moving speed is increased (S37), and an early selection operation can be performed. Thereafter, the state returns to the pointing input state (S5).

  As described above, the pointing input and the volume adjustment input can be switched by long-pressing the central portion, so that a large number of functions can be realized with a small number of buttons, and the device can be downsized.

  Here, the method of setting the pressing range in S31 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the display screen of the liquid crystal display unit 3 at the time of pressing setting. Since the pressure to be contacted (contact pressure) varies depending on the user, it is necessary to perform the above initial setting in accordance with each individual and use conditions to reduce the mismatch between individual differences. As shown in FIG. 7, the screen display at the time of setting is a numerical value after the finger is pressed lightly on the fingerprint sensor in the state in which the minimum pressing value setting screen 711 is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display unit 3 in a settable state. Input “1” is confirmed with the button, and then the input is confirmed with the numeric button after the finger is pressed most strongly in the state where the maximum value setting screen 712 is displayed. It is possible to read which press is between these set values and change the cursor movement speed and volume level according to the set press. For example, in the case of the cursor movement speed, for example, “0” is in the “still” state, “1” is the slowest, “10” is the fastest, and “5” is the center. The speed of the value.

  Here, registration and authentication of a fingerprint by a fingerprint sensor will be described. The fingerprint sensor detects the unevenness of the fingerprint by the pressure difference between the fingerprint surfaces of the finger and converts it into data. The read fingerprint data is patterned for each fingerprint area and stored as unique fingerprint pattern information. The memory is written into the memory via a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) inside the portable communication device. This pressure sensor method is suitable for mounting on mobile communication devices because it is thin and low cost. For fingerprint authentication, the fingerprint pattern information stored above is compared with the fingerprint pattern information of the fingerprint read at the time of authentication. On the other hand, authentication is not possible if the match rate is below a certain level.

  Next, a basic operation procedure of the mobile communication device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, the initial fingerprint registration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 shows an example of a flowchart of a process flow during fingerprint registration. The fingerprint registration is performed after the power of the mobile communication device body 1 is turned on or in the turned on state. First, the power is turned on (S10), and the portable communication device is made usable. When the power is turned on, the fingerprint registration confirmation state is entered in which the device is opened and the initial setting mode is set by a predetermined operation (S11). Here, in the case of a portable communication device other than the folding type, the operation start button or an arbitrary button may be pressed to make it usable. When registering a fingerprint, the information input unit 4 is pressed and held in the fingerprint reading state to read the fingerprint (S12). If not registered, it can be used in a state where the operation range is limited (S15). In the fingerprint registration, the user's arbitrary fingerprint surface is pressed against the central portion 12 of the information input unit 4 and stored in the memory via the CPU in the device (S13). This completes the initial setting for fingerprint registration (S14). Note that the fingerprint information once stored will not be erased unless a registration deletion operation is performed.

  Next, processing and display examples of input instruction content setting from a state where fingerprints are registered will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a flow chart of the input instruction content setting process. FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of the screen display when setting input contents. First, in order to confirm whether the user is a registered person or not, after opening the apparatus main body (S1), the fingerprint authentication mode (S2) is activated. Here, the user applies the fingerprint of his / her registered finger to the information input unit 4 and performs fingerprint authentication (S3). If it is confirmed by fingerprint authentication that the fingerprint has been registered, the operation button unit 2 and other locks are released (S4), and the information input unit 4 shifts to an operation mode as a pointing input (S5). If the user's fingerprint cannot be compared with the registered fingerprint, the subsequent button operation is not accepted (S9). For example, “You are not registered and you cannot use this unit on the display screen. An unregistered message “cannot be displayed” is displayed to encourage you to use it. In the case of an unregistered person, no further button operation is accepted. When it is determined that the user is a registered person in fingerprint authentication (S3), the information input unit 4 is switched from the fingerprint authentication function to the pressure sensor function for performing the pointing operation as described above, and the area on the fingerprint sensor is shown in FIG. As shown, subdivided and pressurized parts can be recognized. Thereafter, when the user presses the central portion 12 of the fingerprint sensor twice, the mode shifts to the input instruction content setting mode (S6). The area division state of the fingerprint sensor at this time is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display unit 3 of the portable communication device as shown in FIG. 10, and the input instruction contents to be set for each area are selected and set from the screen (S7). ). When selecting, the menu screen 51 is displayed for each area, and the number added for each selection item is input from the number buttons of the operation button unit 2 of the portable communication device. As described above, the information input unit 4 can be used as a custom input arbitrarily selected by the user by setting the top / bottom / left / right and the center part so as to be easily operated by the user. When all the settings have been completed, the long press setting of the call button on the operation button unit 2 is confirmed (completed) (S8). After that, since the information input unit 4 has returned to the pointing input state, when the user presses the center unit 12 four times, the set function can be activated with a simple operation. Since this state is stored in the memory in the portable terminal body, the setting is retained even when the power button is turned off.

  As described above, in the pointing input state, it is possible to switch to the volume adjustment mode by long-pressing the central part 2 and to customize input by pressing the central part 12 four times, so that a large number of functions can be realized with a small number of buttons and the device can be made compact. Can be made.

  Next, an operation procedure for setting a destination telephone number using the information input unit 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12A and 12B. FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of a flowchart of the telephone number setting process. FIG. 12A shows an example of screen display at the time of fingerprint registration, and FIG. 12B shows an example of screen display at the time of telephone number registration. Fingerprint authentication is performed from the state in which the device main body is opened (S1), and the button lock release (S4) in the case of authentication is the same as that in FIG.

  After the information input unit 4 becomes a pointing input in S5, when the center part 12 is pressed three times, the fingerprint registration and a telephone number setting mode in which an arbitrary telephone number corresponding to the registered fingerprint can be input are entered (S21). . In this mode, the user's ten-finger fingerprint can be read and the other party's phone number can be registered according to each fingerprint. Registration is limited to 10 cases, the same as the number of fingers. The registration procedure will be described. First, when the fingerprint reading state is entered, a message (61) such as “Please register your fingerprint” is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display unit 3 as shown in FIG. In accordance with this, the user reads an arbitrary fingerprint, and when the reading is completed (S22), as shown in FIG. 12B, a message (62) of “Please enter the telephone number of the other party” is displayed. Here, the user inputs a telephone number with the numeric buttons of the operation button section 2 (S23), and finally, the setting is confirmed by long pressing the call button of the operation button section 2 (S24). The same operation can be performed with other fingers, and up to 10 items can be set. When making a call to the other party, after pressing the call button of the operation button unit 2, the name of the other party is displayed on the display screen by pressing the finger corresponding to the telephone number of the other party to be transmitted to the central part 12 of the information input unit 4. The telephone number can be displayed and the call can be made at the same time. If you register a person who makes a lot of phone calls, you can make phone book searches that took a long time to find in a short time and with a single touch. Since this telephone number setting is also stored in the memory inside the main body, the setting is retained even when the power button is turned off. In the case of canceling the setting, contrary to the above setting, it can be canceled by pressing the call button for a long time, and when it is desired to cancel the mode, it is canceled by pressing the call button twice.

  Further, in this embodiment, fingerprint patterns recognized by the fingerprint sensor are registered with ten fingers, and operations can be assigned to each fingerprint pattern to correspond. For example, the index finger is set as a “call button”, and a call can be made by touching the sensor with the index finger when receiving a call. Similarly, the middle finger is set as the “end call button”, and the end of the call can be completed simply by touching the middle finger. Furthermore, the ring finger is “start mail”, the little finger is “Internet”, and the user can set his own settings for each finger type. As another embodiment, it is also possible to store a telephone number for each ten-finger fingerprint so as to be able to make a call to a different party depending on the kind of finger to be contacted. As a result, it is possible to selectively talk with various parties by using different fingers, and the call operation can be simplified.

  In this embodiment, the predetermined operation for changing the input instruction content of the information input unit is a long press of the central portion 2, a second press, a third press, and a fourth press. However, the predetermined operation may be other than this. Absent.

  As described above, the mobile communication device according to the present embodiment has a fingerprint reading unit that reads fingerprint data, divides the fingerprint reading unit into a plurality of areas, and when the divided area is pressed, The content of the input instruction is arbitrary according to the pressed area. Thereby, since the number of buttons arranged on the main body can be reduced, it is possible to reduce the size and further improve the operability.

  Furthermore, the fingerprint reading unit is configured to be able to detect a pressing amount, and the second input instruction content is different from the arbitrary input instruction content depending on the pressing amount. This improves the operability because the cursor speed and the like can be changed without adding a button.

  Further, the arbitrary input instruction content is a pointing input instruction for moving a cursor for selecting an item on the display screen, and the second input instruction content is an input instruction for the moving speed of the cursor, and the amount of pressing It is characterized by the corresponding cursor moving speed. Thereby, the operativity at the time of cursor movement can be improved, without adding a button.

  Further, the arbitrary input instruction content is a volume input instruction for setting a call volume of a receiver or a speaker, and the second input instruction content is an input instruction of the volume level, and a volume level corresponding to a pressing amount. It is characterized by becoming. Thereby, the volume can be adjusted without adding a button, and the size can be reduced.

  Furthermore, the minimum value and the maximum value of the pressing amount are registered in advance. Thereby, the influence by the individual difference of a press can be reduced.

  Furthermore, the arbitrary input instruction content and / or the second input instruction content can be changed by a predetermined operation of the device. As a result, the input instruction content in the fingerprint sensor area can be switched to pointing input, volume adjustment, and customized input for functions, so that a large number of functions can be realized with a small number of buttons, and the device can be downsized.

It is a block diagram of a portable communication apparatus. It is an example of a structure of the fingerprint sensor part of the information input part 4 in a portable communication apparatus. It is an internal block diagram of a pointing button. It is the figure which showed the state which made the finger contact the fingerprint sensor. It is an example of a screen display at the time of menu display. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the setting of a press range, and operation content. It is an example of a display screen of the liquid crystal display part 3 at the time of pressing range setting. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process at the time of fingerprint registration. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of an input instruction content setting. It is an example of a screen display at the time of input content setting. It is a flowchart of the flow of a telephone number setting process. It is an example of a screen display at the time of telephone number registration.

Explanation of symbols

1: Mobile communication device body 2: Operation button unit 3: Liquid crystal display unit 4: Information input unit 11: Upper part of fingerprint sensor (upward cursor button detection range)
12: Center part of fingerprint sensor (confirmation button detection range and fingerprint detection range)
13: Right part of fingerprint sensor (Right cursor button detection range)
14: Lower part of fingerprint sensor (downward cursor button detection range)
15: Left part of fingerprint sensor (left cursor button detection range)
51: Input instruction content setting menu display 61, 62: Fingerprint and telephone number setting menu screen 72: Fingerprint sensor surface portion,
76, electrode of information input section

Claims (6)

A portable communication device,
It has a fingerprint authentication function having a fingerprint reading means for reading fingerprint data,
A portable communication device characterized in that the fingerprint reading means is divided into a plurality of areas, and when the divided area is pressed, the content of the input instruction is arbitrary according to the pressed area.   2. The portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein the fingerprint reading unit detects a pressing amount, and switches to a second input instruction content different from the arbitrary input instruction content according to the pressing amount. machine.   3. The mobile communication device according to claim 2, wherein the arbitrary input instruction content is a pointing input instruction for moving a cursor for selecting an item on a display screen, and the second input instruction content is a moving speed of the cursor. A portable communication device that is an input instruction and has a moving speed of a cursor corresponding to a pressing amount.   3. The portable communication device according to claim 2, wherein the arbitrary input instruction content is a volume input instruction for setting a call volume of a receiver or a speaker, and the second input instruction content is an input instruction for the volume level. A portable communication device having a volume level corresponding to the pressing amount.   5. The portable communication device according to claim 2, further comprising means for storing a minimum value and a maximum value of the pressing amount. 6. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device is switched to the arbitrary input instruction content and / or the second input instruction content by a predetermined operation by a user.

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