JP2006039485A - Mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile terminal with a touch panel that avoids a decrease in luminance of a display image on a liquid crystal monitor and limitations of a display area without spoiling portability and operability. <P>SOLUTION: The mobile terminal has a main body 1 and a liquid crystal monitor unit 20 connected together rotatably by a hinge unit 30, and the main body 1 has on one surface a main body case 10 where a plurality of operation keys 15 are displayed and a touch panel unit 11 provided apart from an operation key display surface of the main body case 10, and the main body 1 and liquid crystal monitor unit 20 are connected together rotatably to enter and exit from the gap 14 between the operation key display surface and touch panel unit 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable terminal device including a display device and an input device.

  Some portable terminal devices typified by mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) include a liquid crystal monitor as a display device and a touch panel as an input device. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a portable terminal in which a main body portion and a flip portion including a liquid crystal monitor with a touch panel are connected to be foldable by a shaft portion. In this portable terminal, an operation key, a changeover switch, and the like are provided on the inner surface of the main body, and when not in use, the flip portion rotates in a direction in which the display surface of the liquid crystal monitor is superimposed on the inner surface of the main body ( Closed).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, an upper case 100 and a lower case 101 are connected to each other by a hinge unit 102 so as to be opened and closed, and a plurality of operation keys 103 are provided on the lower case 101. A mobile phone provided with a monitor 104 is also known.

Furthermore, a mobile phone that does not include physical operation keys and performs input processing using virtual operation keys displayed as images on a liquid crystal monitor with a touch panel is also known. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, there is known a mobile phone that selects a desired operation key from a virtual operation key 111 displayed on a liquid crystal monitor with a touch panel 110 using a touch panel. In the mobile phone shown in FIG. 7, the result of the input process based on the operation key 111 selected by the touch panel is displayed in a region A surrounded by a chain line at the top of the liquid crystal monitor.
JP 2001-169166 A

  In a liquid crystal monitor with a touch panel, a touch panel is superimposed on a liquid crystal panel. Therefore, the user sees the image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor through the touch panel, and the apparent luminance of the image is lowered. When performing input using the touch panel, a desired operation key or icon is selected from the operation key or icon displayed on the liquid crystal monitor using the touch panel. For this reason, a part of the display area of the liquid crystal monitor is used to display operation keys, icons, and the like, and the area that can be used to display the result of the input process is limited.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal with a touch panel that avoids a reduction in luminance of a display image on a liquid crystal monitor and a limitation on a display area without impairing portability and operability.

  A portable terminal in which a main body and a liquid crystal monitor unit are connected so as to be rotatable or slidable. The main body is provided with a main body case on which operation keys are displayed on one side, and spaced apart from an operation key display surface of the main body case. The main body and the liquid crystal monitor unit are connected so that the liquid crystal monitor unit rotates or slides in a direction in which the liquid crystal monitor unit can enter and exit the space between the operation key display surface and the touch panel. Therefore, when the mobile phone is carried or the like, the liquid crystal monitor unit and the touch panel are overlapped to be in a compact state by accommodating the liquid crystal monitor unit in the space. On the other hand, when in use, the liquid crystal monitor unit is removed from the above space, so that the overlap between the liquid crystal monitor unit and the touch panel is eliminated, and the liquid crystal monitor can be directly viewed without using the touch panel. It becomes a state. Furthermore, since the overlap between the LCD monitor unit and the touch panel is eliminated, the operation keys displayed on the surface of the main body case can be seen through the touch panel, so that the operation keys can be displayed on the LCD monitor. There is no need to provide an area.

  The portable terminal of the present invention has a main body case on which operation keys are displayed on one side, a touch panel provided apart from the operation key display surface of the main body case, and a liquid crystal monitor unit. Since it can be rotated or slid relative to the space between the display surface and the touch panel so that it can enter and exit, the brightness of the display image on the LCD monitor and the display area can be reduced without sacrificing portability and operability. A mobile terminal with a touch panel that avoids the limitation can be realized.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the portable terminal of the present invention will be described. The mobile terminal of this example is a mobile phone having a main body and a liquid crystal monitor unit rotatably connected to the main body.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the main body 1 includes a main body case 10 and a panel unit 11. The panel unit 11 includes a substantially rectangular panel frame 12 and a transmissive touch panel 13 housed inside the panel frame 12, and is disposed on the surface side of the main body case 10 so as to be separated from the surface. ing. That is, a gap 14 is provided between the front surface of the main body case 10 and the back surface of the panel unit 11. Furthermore, an operation key 15 is printed on the surface of the main body case 10 so that the operation key 15 can be seen through the touch panel 13. A battery 16 is detachably attached to the back surface of the main body case 10.

  A first microphone hole 17 and a second microphone hole 18 are provided on one end in the longitudinal direction of the panel frame 12 and on both outer sides of the center of the panel frame 12 in the width direction. In the following description, the side where the first microphone hole 17 and the second microphone hole 18 are provided in the longitudinal direction of the panel frame 12 and the main body case 10 is referred to as the upper part, and the opposite side is referred to as the lower part. Therefore, referring to FIG. 1A, it can be seen that the first speaker hole 19 is provided in the lower part of the panel frame 12 and at the center in the width direction of the panel frame 12.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 includes a substantially rectangular monitor frame 21 and a liquid crystal monitor 22 housed inside the monitor frame 21. One end in the longitudinal direction of the monitor frame 21 is inserted into the upper portion of the gap 14 and is sandwiched between the upper portion of the main body case 10 and the upper portion of the panel frame 12. In the following description, in the longitudinal direction of the monitor frame 21, the side sandwiched between the upper part of the main body case 10 and the upper part of the panel frame 12 is referred to as the lower part, and the opposite side is referred to as the upper part.

  The main body 1 having the basic structure as described above and the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 are rotatably connected. Specifically, the upper part of the main body case 10 and the upper part of the panel frame 12 facing each other with the gap 14 interposed therebetween, and the lower part of the monitor frame 21 sandwiched between them rotate the hinge unit 30 that passes through them in the stacking direction. The shaft 31 is rotatably connected. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the main body 1 and the liquid crystal panel unit 20 are relatively rotatable about the rotation axis (FIG. 1B). The main body 1 and the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 can be rotated at least 180 degrees, and the state shown in FIG. 3 from the state shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, that is, the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 has a gap 14 (FIG. 1). (B)), the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 and the main body 1 can be reciprocally rotated until they are exactly overlapped. Note that a latch mechanism is provided in the hinge unit 30 so that when the main body 1 and the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 are in the state shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B or in the state shown in FIG. The movement can be temporarily stopped.

  Referring again to FIG. 2, a third microphone hole 40 is provided in the lower part of the monitor frame 12, and a microphone (not shown) is incorporated inside the third microphone hole 40. Here, the third microphone hole 40 communicates with the first microphone hole 17 of the panel frame 12 when the main body 1 and the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 are in the positional relationship shown in FIGS. 1 and the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 are provided at a position communicating with the second microphone hole 18 of the panel frame 12 when the positional relationship shown in FIG. Accordingly, in the state shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, sound is input to the microphone through the first microphone hole 17 and the third microphone hole 40 that are in communication. On the other hand, in the state shown in FIG. 3, sound is input to the microphone through the second microphone hole 18 and the third microphone hole 40 that are in communication.

  Furthermore, a second speaker hole 41 is provided in the upper part of the monitor frame, and a speaker (not shown) is built inside the second speaker hole 41. The second speaker hole 41 is provided at a position where the main body 1 and the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 communicate with the first speaker hole 19 of the panel frame 12 when the positional relationship shown in FIG. Accordingly, in the state shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the sound output from the speaker is output to the outside through the second speaker hole 41. On the other hand, in the state shown in FIG. 3, the sound output from the speaker is output to the outside through the second speaker hole 41 and the first speaker hole 19 (not shown).

  Referring again to FIG. 1 (a), on one side of the monitor frame 21 in the width direction (left side in FIG. 1 (a)), a storage portion (not shown) in which a stylus 42 as a pointing device can be inserted and removed in the axial direction. ) Is provided. Since the vertical orientation of the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 does not change between the state shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and the state shown in FIG. 3, the stylus 42 can always be pulled upward and the stylus can be pulled out. 42 is not accidentally dropped from the storage section.

  The cellular phone of the present example having the above structure is used as follows. First, when not in use, both or one of the main body 1 and the liquid crystal monitor unit is rotated, and the liquid crystal monitor unit is accommodated in the gap 14 (FIG. 1B), as shown in FIG. Overlay the LCD monitor unit. Thereby, it becomes a compact state as much as possible and becomes a form excellent in portability.

  On the other hand, in use, both or one of the main body 1 and the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 is rotated from the state shown in FIG. 3 so that the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 accommodated in the gap 14 is shown in FIGS. Expose as shown. Next, a desired operation key 15 is selected from a plurality of operation keys 15 visible through the touch panel 13, and the surface of the touch panel 13 corresponding to the selected operation key 15 is touched with the tip of the stylus 42. Then, the contact position of the stylus 42 is detected, input processing based on the selected operation key 15 is performed, and an input result (for example, a search result based on an input number or an input keyword) is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 22. Is displayed. That is, in the mobile phone of this example, the operation key 15 selected by touching the touch panel 13 is displayed on the surface of the main body case 10, and the result of the input processing based on the selected operation key 15 is the liquid crystal monitor. 22 is displayed. Therefore, a part of the display area of the liquid crystal monitor 22 is not occupied to display the operation keys 15. Further, since the touch panel 13 is not overlaid on the liquid crystal monitor 22, the apparent brightness of the image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 22 is not reduced.

  The above is the basic usage method of the mobile phone of this example. However, when the amount of information displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 22 as a result of the input process using the touch panel 13 is small and the brightness of the displayed image does not matter so much, for example, a number string indicating a telephone number to be transmitted Can only be displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 22, it is possible to use the mobile phone of this example in the state shown in FIG. In this case, the liquid crystal monitor 22 displays at least a numeric keypad, a start key, and an end key. When the tip of the stylus 42 comes into contact with the surface of the touch panel 13 corresponding to the key selected from the numeric keys visible through the touch panel 13, a number corresponding to the selected key is input, and then corresponds to the start key. When the tip of the stylus 42 comes into contact with the surface of the touch panel 13, the entered number (telephone number) is sent to the telephone line. Thereafter, when the tip of the stylus 42 contacts the surface of the touch panel 13 corresponding to the end call key, the line is disconnected. Further, even when a numeric string indicating the incoming call number is merely displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 22, the mobile phone of this example can be used in the state shown in FIG. In this case, the incoming call number, the start key, and the end key are displayed simultaneously with the incoming call. When the tip of the stylus 42 comes into contact with the surface of the touch panel 13 corresponding to the start key, a line is connected to enable a call. Note that the line is disconnected when the tip of the stylus 42 comes into contact with the surface of the touch panel 13 corresponding to the call end key, as in the case of outgoing call.

  It should be noted that the method for detecting the contact position of the stylus 42 on the touch panel 13 and the input processing method based on the detected contact position are not substantially different from those of the prior art, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, another example of the embodiment of the terminal of the present invention will be described. The mobile terminal of this example is also a mobile phone, and its basic configuration is the same as that of the mobile phone of the first embodiment. Accordingly, the same components as those of the mobile phone according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings and description thereof is omitted.

  The mobile phone of this example is different from the mobile phone of Embodiment 1 in the connection structure between the main body and the liquid crystal monitor unit. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the main body 1 and the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 are slidably connected. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5A, an accommodating portion 50 that can accommodate the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 is formed between the main body case 10 constituting the main body 1 and the panel unit 11. A guide groove 51 is formed on the inner surface of the housing portion 50, and a ridge 52 that fits into the guide groove 51 is formed along the longitudinal direction on the outer surface of the monitor frame 21 constituting the liquid crystal monitor unit 20. The liquid crystal monitor unit 20 slides back and forth in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4 according to a guide by fitting the guide groove 51 and the ridge 52.

  In the mobile phone of this example having the above structure, if the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 is slid toward the main body 1 and accommodated in the accommodating portion 50 (assuming the state shown in FIG. 5A), the state shown in FIG. It becomes substantially the same state. On the other hand, if the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 accommodated in the accommodating part 50 is slid to the opposite side to the main body 1 side and pulled out from the accommodating part 50 (assuming the state shown in FIG. 4), the state shown in FIG. It becomes substantially the same state. Therefore, the same usage method as that described in the first embodiment can be practiced by putting the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 in and out of the housing portion 50 as necessary.

  In the mobile phone of this example, a microphone hole 60 is provided in the lower part of the panel frame 12, and a microphone (not shown) is built inside the microphone hole 60. A first speaker hole 61 is provided in the upper part of the monitor frame 21, and a speaker (not shown) is built inside the first speaker hole 61. Further, a second speaker hole 62 that communicates with the first speaker hole 61 when the liquid crystal monitor unit 20 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 50 is provided in the upper part of the panel frame 12.

  However, the number and arrangement of microphone holes and speaker holes are such that the main body and the liquid crystal monitor unit move linearly with each other in the mobile phone of this example, whereas the main body and the liquid crystal monitor unit in the mobile phone of the first embodiment. Is caused by a difference in movement mode such as rotating around the rotation axis, and is not an essential difference. In short, the number and arrangement of the microphone holes and speaker holes are not particularly limited as long as the microphone communicates with the outside through the microphone hole and the speaker communicates with the outside through the speaker hole before and after the movement. In addition, whether the microphone communicates with the outside through a single microphone hole or whether it communicates with the outside through two or more communicating microphone holes is not an essential difference, and is the same for the speaker hole. It is.

(A) is a top view which shows an example of embodiment of the portable terminal of this invention, (b) is a side view of a partial cross section. It is a top view which shows the rotation state of the main body shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows the state in which the liquid crystal monitor unit shown in FIG. 1 was accommodated inside the main body shown in the same figure. It is a top view which shows the other example of embodiment of the portable terminal of this invention. 4A and 4B show a state in which the liquid crystal monitor unit shown in FIG. 4 is housed inside the main body shown in FIG. 4, where FIG. 4A is a sectional view and FIG. 4B is a plan view. It is a top view which shows an example of the conventional mobile telephone provided with the liquid crystal monitor with a touch panel. It is a top view which shows the other example of the conventional mobile telephone provided with the liquid crystal monitor with a touch panel.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 10 Main body case 11 Panel unit 12 Panel frame 13 Touch panel 14 Space | gap 15 Operation key 16 Battery 17 1st microphone hole 18 2nd microphone hole 19 1st speaker hole 20 Liquid crystal monitor unit 21 Monitor frame 22 Liquid crystal monitor 30 Hinge Unit 31 Rotating shaft 40 Third microphone hole 41 Second speaker hole 42 Stylus 50 Housing part 51 Guide groove 52 Projection 60 Microphone hole 61 First speaker hole 62 Second speaker hole

Claims (8)

A mobile terminal in which a main body and a liquid crystal monitor unit are rotatably connected,
The main body has a main body case on which operation keys are displayed on one side, and a touch panel provided apart from the operation key display surface of the main body case,
The main body and the liquid crystal monitor unit are connected to each other so that the liquid crystal monitor unit rotates in a direction in which the liquid crystal monitor unit can enter and exit in a gap between the operation key display surface and the touch panel.   The main body has a first microphone hole communicating with a microphone provided in the liquid crystal monitor unit when the liquid crystal monitor unit is not accommodated in the gap, and the liquid crystal monitor unit is accommodated in the gap. The portable terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a second microphone hole that communicates with the microphone.   The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein the main body has a speaker hole that communicates with a speaker provided in the liquid crystal monitor unit when the liquid crystal monitor unit is accommodated in the gap. A portable terminal in which a main body and a liquid crystal monitor unit are slidably connected,
The main body includes a main body case on which operation keys are displayed on one side, a touch panel provided apart from the operation key display surface of the main body case, and a housing provided between the operation key display surface and the touch panel. And
The main body and the liquid crystal monitor unit are connected to each other so that the liquid crystal monitor unit slides in a direction in which the liquid crystal monitor unit can enter and exit the housing portion.   The portable terminal according to claim 4, wherein a guide groove is formed on the inner side surface of the housing portion, and a protrusion that fits into the guide groove is formed on the outer side surface of the liquid crystal monitor unit.   The main body includes a microphone hole that communicates with a microphone provided in the liquid crystal monitor unit and a speaker that communicates with a speaker provided in the liquid crystal monitor unit when the liquid crystal monitor unit is accommodated in the accommodating portion. The portable terminal according to claim 4 or 5, which has a hole.   The portable terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a pointing device for performing an input operation using the touch panel.   The portable terminal according to claim 7, wherein a storage unit capable of storing the pointing device is provided in both or one of the main body and the liquid crystal monitor unit.

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