JP2005259149A - Information processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processing unit, such as a mobile phone, equipped with a fingerprint sensor and an operation key including a PHS(Personal Handyphone System) for establishing both miniaturization and operability in high level. <P>SOLUTION: A groove 123 having a first slope 123a stretching away from a key operation panel 121, and slanting downward and a second slope 123b stretching further away from the key operation panel 121 than the first slope 123a, and slanting upward is positioned adjacently to the key operation panel 121. A fingerprint sensor 124 is arranged in the groove 123, and the first slope 123a and the second slope 123b are formed as slopes having the mutually different angles of inclination. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus such as a cellular phone including a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) having a fingerprint sensor and operation keys.

  In recent years, mobile phones have become widespread and have not only a simple telephone function, but also an e-mail function, for example, a memory function that stores various personal information such as telephone numbers, etc. It has been developed as a portable information processing device with specific functions.

  One of the major problems since such development of mobile phones is illegal use of the mobile phone and illegal leak of information stored in the mobile phone.

  As one method for solving this problem, conventionally, a personal identification number is registered, and if the personal identification number is not entered, it is disabled.

In addition, since it is troublesome to input a personal identification number, recently, a cellular phone equipped with a fingerprint sensor and registered as a fingerprint and cannot be used if the fingerprints do not match has been proposed (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). Actual products have also appeared. This fingerprint sensor is at a considerably high level from the viewpoint of preventing unauthorized use and handling.
JP 2002-216116 A JP 2002-279212 A

Although it is preferable from the aspect of security to install a fingerprint sensor on a mobile phone, one of the requirements for mobile phones is miniaturization and weight reduction. In the current situation, the problem is what kind of fingerprint sensor is placed on the mobile phone.

  The operation keys and screens that are indispensable for mobile phones are arranged so that they can face the user at the same time in normal use so that they can be operated while looking at the screen. If the surface on the side that is formed is the front surface, there is a space on the back surface with respect to the front surface, and it is conceivable to arrange the fingerprint sensor there. However, the fingerprint sensor also has the role of an operation key operated by the user, and there is a problem that the operability is sacrificed if the fingerprint sensor is arranged on the back surface.

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 employ a sweep-type fingerprint sensor that uses a line sensor in which fine sensors are arranged in an integrated manner, and touches the fingertip on the line sensor to move the finger in a perpendicular direction to read the fingerprint. Proposed.

  In the case of this sweep type fingerprint sensor, the installation space is small, and as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the sweep type fingerprint sensor is placed on the front surface of the mobile phone without sacrificing the downsizing of the mobile phone. Can be arranged. Patent Document 1 shows a diagram in which the sweep type fingerprint sensor is arranged at a position adjacent to an operation key, and Patent Document 2 shows the sweep type fingerprint sensor at a position adjacent to the screen.

  However, in the case of the sweep type fingerprint sensor, it is necessary to move the finger along the fingerprint sensor. If no fingerprint is taken and the fingerprint sensor is simply placed at a position adjacent to the operation key, the finger is moved along the fingerprint sensor. If the fingerprint sensor is placed at a position adjacent to the screen, the finger touches the screen and touches the fingerprint sensor on the screen. There is a risk that only the adjacent parts will become noticeable and dirty. In order to prevent this, if the fingerprint sensor is arranged on the surface of the mobile phone at a position away from the operation keys and the screen, this is contrary to the demand for downsizing of the mobile phone.

  In addition, in the case of this sweep type fingerprint sensor, the installation space can be reduced, so it can be arranged on the side of the mobile phone. Remain. Such a problem is not limited to mobile phones but is a problem common to information processing apparatuses including a fingerprint sensor and operation keys.

  In view of the circumstances described above, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus with a fingerprint sensor that achieves both miniaturization and operability at a high level.

The information processing apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object is a foldable information processing apparatus in which an upper casing and a lower casing having an operation unit are connected to each other by a hinge so as to be opened and closed.
The lower housing is located at a position adjacent to the operation portion, a first slope inclined downward in a direction away from the operation portion, and an upward direction further away from the operation portion than the first slope. A groove having an inclined second slope,
A fingerprint sensor for detecting a fingerprint of a finger moved in the groove along the first slope and the second slope is provided in the groove,
The first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are inclined surfaces having mutually different inclination angles.

  Here, in the information processing apparatus of the present invention, the fingerprint sensor is preferably a sweep type fingerprint sensor.

  Since the information processing apparatus of the present invention has the above-described groove and a fingerprint sensor is provided in the groove, the finger is placed on the fingerprint sensor due to the presence of the first inclined surface constituting the groove. It is possible to prevent the operation keys from operating accidentally when moved. In addition, since the first and second slopes are provided, the fingers can be moved along the slopes while the fingers are securely applied to the fingerprint sensor using both sides of the slopes as a guide. The fingerprint can be detected reliably.

  Here, the inclination angles of the first slope and the second slope are made different from each other, and each of the first slope and the second slope from the viewpoint of preventing erroneous operation of the operation keys and from the viewpoint of sure detection of fingerprints. It is preferable to determine the inclination angle of In that case, it is preferable that the first inclined surface is an inclined surface having a larger inclination angle than the second inclined surface.

  Further, in the information processing apparatus of the present invention, when the sweep type fingerprint sensor is provided as the fingerprint sensor, the sweep type fingerprint sensor is disposed at a position where the surface of the sweep type fingerprint sensor protrudes from the inner surface of the groove. In addition, the sweep type fingerprint sensor is preferably provided at a position in the groove where the twill line where the extended surface of the first slope and the extended surface of the second slope contact is hidden. .

  By placing the sweep type fingerprint sensor at a position protruding from the inner surface of the groove, and by arranging the sweep type fingerprint sensor at a position where the above-mentioned twill line is hidden, that is, at the bottom part of the groove, The finger can be moved while the state is maintained, and the fingerprint can be reliably detected.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the fingerprint sensor is arranged at a position adjacent to the operation unit on the same surface as the operation unit is arranged, so that miniaturization and operability can be achieved at a high level. Both can be achieved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a mobile phone as an embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention.

  In this mobile phone 100, an upper housing 110 in which a display screen 111, a call mouth 112, an antenna 113, and the like are incorporated, and a lower housing 120 having a key operation panel 121, a earpiece 122, and the like are hinged 130. This is a foldable mobile phone that is connected to be freely opened and closed. A V-shaped groove 123 is formed in the lower casing 120 of the cellular phone 100 adjacent to the key operation panel 121 at a position immediately below the key operation panel 121, and the bottom of the V-shaped groove 123. Is provided with a sweep type fingerprint sensor 124. Further, a pair of case pads 125 are provided on both sides of the V-shaped groove 123 of the lower housing 120. These case pads 125 are made of a soft material (for example, rubber) formed so as to protrude somewhat from the surface of the lower casing 120, and are upper when the upper casing 110 and the lower casing 120 are folded. It serves as a cushion for avoiding direct contact between the housing 110 and the lower housing 120. In the present embodiment, the case pad 125 plays a role as an index of a finger position when detecting a fingerprint in addition to a role as a cushion. Details will be described later.

  2 is a plan view showing the periphery of the sweep type fingerprint sensor of the mobile phone 100 shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a two-dot chain line in FIG. It is the elements on larger scale inside the circle A shown.

  FIG. 2 shows three keys 121 a, 121 b, 121 c arranged at the bottom of the plurality of keys constituting the key operation panel 121, and arranged at the bottom of the lower housing 120. A V-shaped groove 123 is provided immediately below the central key 121b among the three keys 121a, 121b, and 121c.

  The V-shaped groove 123 includes a down slope 123a that is tapered in a direction away from the key 121b and an up slope 123b that is tapered in a direction further away from the key 121b than the down slope 123a. Yes. Further, a sweep type fingerprint sensor 124 is disposed inside the V-shaped groove 123.

  Here, when trying to detect a fingerprint by the sweep type fingerprint sensor 124, the finger is placed so that the first joint closest to the tip of the finger is positioned on a straight line connecting the two case pads 125, From this state, the finger is moved along the first inclined surface 123a and the second inclined surface 123b in the V-shaped groove 123 along the arrow indicated by a broken line in FIG. By doing so, the fingerprint of the moved finger is detected by the sweep type fingerprint sensor 124.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the inclination angles α and β of the first inclined surface 123a and the second inclined surface 123b constituting the V-shaped groove 123 are different from each other, and α> β. These inclination angles α and β maintain a state in which the fingertip is properly applied to the sweep type fingerprint sensor 124 from the viewpoint of preventing the key 121b shown in FIG. 2 from being accidentally pressed when trying to detect a fingerprint. It is determined from the viewpoint of reliably detecting the fingerprint by moving the finger while it is still.

  Further, here, as shown in FIG. 4, the sweep type fingerprint sensor 124 is a position where the twill line 123c where the surface extending from the first inclined surface 123a and the surface extending from the second inclined surface 123b contact each other is hidden, ie, V It is disposed at the bottom of the letter-shaped groove 123, and the upper surface 124a of the sweep-type fingerprint sensor 124 is disposed so as to protrude by a height b.

  When the sweep type fingerprint sensor 124 is arranged at this position, the finger pressure applied to the sweep type fingerprint sensor 124 when the finger is moved along the first inclined surface 123a and the second inclined surface 123b is stabilized, and the fingerprint is more reliably detected. can do. However, the sweep type fingerprint sensor 124 is not necessarily arranged at this position, and may be arranged at a position in the V-shaped groove 123 where the fingerprint can be reliably detected.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the structure of the sweep type fingerprint sensor 124.

  The sweep type fingerprint sensor 124 includes a one-dimensional line sensor 126, conductive pads 127 disposed on both sides thereof, a bonding wire 128 that connects the one-dimensional line sensor 126 and the conductive pads 127, and a mold (not shown). It is configured. Bonding wires 128 are arranged on both sides of the one-dimensional line sensor 126, and a central effective area D avoiding the bonding wires 128 on both sides is molded so as to appear outside. Only the central effective region D is arranged so as to appear outside from the V-shaped groove 123. As described above, the V-shaped groove 123 effectively acts to expose only the effective region D of the sweep type fingerprint sensor 124 and to hide the bulges on both sides thereof in the lower housing 120.

  In the above-described embodiment, since there is a feature in the arrangement position of the sweep type fingerprint sensor and the surrounding structure (V-shaped groove, etc.) in the mobile phone, they will be described here with emphasis on them and other than the mobile phone. Although the description of the function is omitted, the mobile phone here does not ask the communication system, and may be a PHS (Personal Handyphone System), for example.

  In addition, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention may be a multi-function machine having functions other than the functions of the mobile phone, such as an electronic mail function and a camera function.

  Furthermore, although the two-fold type mobile phone has been described here, the present invention is not limited to the two-fold type and can be applied to various types of mobile phones, and further, other information processing apparatuses other than the mobile phone. For example, the present invention can also be applied to PDA (Personal Data Assistant).

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The difference between the embodiment described below and the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 is only the difference in the shape of the groove in which the sweep type fingerprint sensor is arranged. For this reason, in the following description, only the drawing in place of FIG. 3 showing the shape of the groove in the embodiment described so far will be described. In the drawings described below, the same reference numerals as those shown in the drawings (FIG. 3) of the embodiment described so far are attached and only different points will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of a groove in a mobile phone as a second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the case of the embodiment described above, the first slope 123a and the second slope 123b are flat as shown in FIG. 3, but in the case of this second embodiment, the first slope 123a and the second slope 123b. All have a convex slope as a whole, and the average slopes are different from each other.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the shape of a groove in a mobile phone as a third embodiment of the present invention.

  In the case of the third embodiment, the first inclined surface 123a and the second inclined surface 123b are both inclined downward (concave upward) as a whole, and the average inclination is different from each other. Yes.

  As shown in these examples, the first inclined surface 123a and the second inclined surface 123b are not limited to planes, but are defined from the viewpoint of preventing erroneous operation of the key and the viewpoint of detecting the fingerprint reliably. Or the thing of the arbitrary shapes swollen down may be sufficient.

1 is an external perspective view of a mobile phone as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a portion around the sweep type fingerprint sensor of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 1. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is the elements on larger scale inside the circle A shown with a dashed-two dotted line in FIG. It is the figure which showed the structure of the sweep type fingerprint sensor. It is sectional drawing which shows the shape of the groove | channel in the mobile telephone as 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the shape of the groove | channel in the mobile telephone as 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Mobile phone 110 Upper housing | casing 120 Housing | casing 121 Key operation panel 121a, 121b, 121c Key 122 Earpiece 123 V-shaped groove 123a 1st slope 123b 2nd slope 123c Aya line 124 Sweep type fingerprint sensor 124a Upper surface 125 Case pad

Claims (5)

In a foldable information processing apparatus in which an upper housing and a lower housing having an operation unit are connected to each other by a hinge so as to be freely opened and closed,
The lower casing is positioned adjacent to the operation unit, in a direction away from the operation unit and in a downward direction, in a direction further away from the operation unit than the first slope, and A groove having a second slope inclined in the upward direction;
A fingerprint sensor is provided in the groove,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the first slope and the second slope are slopes having different inclination angles.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first slope is a slope having an inclination angle larger than that of the second slope.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fingerprint sensor is a sweep type fingerprint sensor.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sweep type fingerprint sensor is disposed at a position where a surface of the sweep type fingerprint sensor protrudes from an inner surface of the groove.   The sweep-type fingerprint sensor is disposed at a position in the groove where a twill line where the extended surface of the first inclined surface and the extended surface of the second inclined surface are in contact is hidden. 3. The information processing apparatus according to 3.

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