JP2007151005A - Mobile communication apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily visually recognize that a user operates an input key. <P>SOLUTION: A mobile phone 1 comprises at least one input key 4 for accepting an instruction input or an information input. A light emitting body 9 that is emitted by operating the input key 4, is provided and when the input key 4 is operated, in response to that operation, the light emitting body 9 is controlled by a control unit (control means). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile communication device such as a mobile phone having an input operation key.

  Conventionally, portable communication devices have been provided with various input operation keys such as a call start key, an end call key, a numeric key, and various function keys in a small and lightweight main body developed in consideration of portability. ing. When these input operation keys are operated, a sound is emitted to notify the user that the input operation key has been operated, thereby preventing the user from forgetting to press the input operation key.

  In addition, mobile communication devices can be used anywhere in the city or in the mountains as long as radio waves for mobile phones can reach.

On the other hand, regarding communication devices (fixed telephones), there is one that informs the number by voice when an input operation key is operated (see Patent Document 1). This is a technique for preventing an erroneous call due to an erroneous key operation by the user.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-90960

  However, the key operation confirmation device as in Patent Document 1 has the following problems.

  First, a confirmation sound is generated each time the input operation key is operated. The sound can be heard by non-users, but it is only noise for non-users. In particular, mobile telephones and other mobile communication devices may be used in a crowded environment, unlike fixed telephones, and the generation of confirmation sounds is likely to cause trouble for others. Depending on the surrounding environment when using a mobile communication device, it is expected that the user will not be able to hear sound or will not be able to hear it. .

  Further, as the mobile communication device is reduced in size, the input operation keys are inevitably reduced. This makes it difficult for the user to recognize which input operation key is pressed. There is a method of pressing one key and selecting a plurality of operation contents according to the time for which the key is held. However, since it is difficult to recognize which input operation key is pressed, it is difficult to operate the mobile communication device.

  In addition, when the input operation keys are operated, the details of the operation are displayed on the display screen. However, it is inconvenient for elderly people with many presbyopia and people with low vision because it is difficult to recognize that they are displayed on the display screen. is there.

  Furthermore, it is difficult to understand that an elderly person is pressing an input operation key because his finger feels dull. The operation sound generated when the input operation key is pressed is inconvenient because it cannot be heard by an elderly person with a lot of hearing loss or a person with a hearing handicap.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to make it easy to visually recognize that a user has operated an input operation key.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a light emitting body (LED or the like) that emits light when the input operation key is pressed is provided so that the user can visually recognize that the input operation key is pressed.

  Specifically, in the first invention, when at least one input operation key that accepts an instruction input or information input, a light emitter that emits light by operation of the input operation key, and when the input operation key is operated And a control means for controlling the light emitter in accordance with the operation.

  According to this configuration, when the input operation key is operated, the light emitter provided in the mobile communication device emits light. Thus, the user can visually confirm that the user has pressed the input operation key, and the operability is improved.

  In a second aspect, the mobile communication device includes a display screen, and the light emitter is installed to emit light toward the same side as the direction of the display screen when operating the input operation key. .

  According to this configuration, the user can easily recognize that the light emitter emits light, that is, it is easy to confirm that the input operation key has been operated, so that the operability of the mobile communication device is improved. In particular, it is preferable that the light emitter is provided at a position where the user does not hide the input operation key with a hand or the like while operating the input operation key and is easily visible to the user. In the foldable portable communication device, the light emitter may be provided not only on the surface provided with the display screen but also on the surface provided with a plurality of input operation keys such as a call key and an end key. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an upper main body provided with the display screen, a lower main body provided with the input operation key, and a hinge part that foldably connects the upper main body and the lower main body so as to be opened and closed. ,
The hinge portion includes a bulging portion that bulges from a surface having the input operation key of the lower main body, and a concave portion that is formed in a concave shape in the upper main body. The bulging portion is fitted, and the concave portion and the bulging portion are connected so as to be rotatable by an axis extending in the width direction,
In the bulge portion, the light emitter is installed so as to emit light toward the same side as the direction of the display screen when the input operation key is operated. Since the part side is formed in a concave shape, the surface where the light emitting body of the bulging part is installed from the concave part of the upper body can be seen from the outside even when the portable communication device is folded. Therefore, the user can see the light emitter regardless of whether the portable communication device is folded.

  In a fourth invention, the input operation key is provided on a side surface of the upper body or the lower body.

  According to this configuration, when the input operation key provided on the side of the upper body or the lower body of the mobile communication device is operated, the user can see the light emitter even when the mobile communication device is closed. It is possible to know that the operation key has been operated without opening the mobile communication device. This eliminates the need to open the mobile communication device for each operation and check whether the operation has been performed.

  In a fifth aspect of the invention, the control means is configured to control the light emitter so that the light emission state changes when the state in which the input operation key is operated continues for a predetermined time.

  According to this configuration, the user can visually know how long the operation of the input operation key has been continued, and erroneous operation can be prevented when the instruction content of the mobile communication device changes depending on the operation operation time of the input operation key. The

  In a sixth aspect of the invention, the light emitter is configured such that the light emission state changes due to a change in emission color.

  According to this configuration, the user can know how long the operation of the input operation key has been continued by the change in the light emission color, and if the instruction content of the mobile communication device changes depending on the operation duration of the input operation key, Is prevented.

  In a seventh aspect of the invention, the light emitter is configured by combining monochromatic light emitting elements having different colors.

  According to this configuration, when the operation time of the input operation key is continued, the monochromatic coloring element alternately emits light, so that the user can know how long the operation has been continued. An erroneous operation is prevented when the instruction content of the mobile communication device changes.

  In an eighth aspect of the invention, the light emitter is composed of a multicolor light emitting element capable of developing two or more different colors.

  According to this configuration, when the operation time of the input operation key is continued, the multi-color light emitting element emits a different color, so that the user can know how long the operation has continued, and the operation time of the input operation key Thus, erroneous operation is prevented when the instruction content of the mobile communication device changes.

  In a ninth aspect of the invention, the light emitter is configured so that its light emission state changes from lighting to blinking or a change in blinking interval.

  According to this configuration, the user can know how long the input operation key has been operated by blinking the light emitter or changing the blinking interval as the operation time of the input operation key continues. Incorrect operation is prevented when the instruction content of the portable communication device changes depending on the operation duration time of the input operation key.

  In a tenth aspect of the invention, the control means turns on the first light emission state when the input operation of the input operation key is started, and the input operation state continues for a preliminary time shorter than the predetermined time. The light-emitting body is controlled to change to the third light-emitting state when the input light-emitting state changes to the second light-emitting state and the input operation state continues for the predetermined time.

  According to this configuration, the user visually recognizes that the user has operated the input operation key and how long the input operation key has been operated by changing the state of the light emitter. As a result, it is recognized that the input operation key is reliably operated. For example, based on the transition from the first light emission state to the second light emission state, the user knows that the power-off process will be performed soon. That is, the transition to the second light emission state is a notice of the power-off process, and the user releases the operation of the input operation key as necessary, and interrupts the power-off process.

  In an eleventh aspect of the invention, the input operation key is an end key that performs an end-of-call process and performs a power-off process when the state where the input operation key is operated continues for the predetermined time.

  According to this configuration, the end call key can perform both the end call process and the power-off process depending on the time during which the end call key is operated. In this way, the user knows that the power-off process has been started due to a change in the light emission state, if the end-call key is kept pressed after the end of the call.

  In a twelfth aspect, the power-off process can be interrupted when shifting from the first light emission state to the second light emission state.

  According to this configuration, based on the transition from the first light-emitting state to the second light-emitting state, the user knows that the power-off process will be performed soon, and using this as an opportunity to operate the input operation keys as necessary. Cancel the power-off process.

  In the thirteenth invention, the mobile communication device is a mobile phone.

  According to this configuration, it is easy to visually recognize that a wide range of users have operated the input operation keys when using the mobile phone.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the user operates the input operation key and the light emitter emits light, the user visually confirms that the input operation key has been operated. ing. For this reason, it leads to prevention of forgetting to press the input operation key, and the operability of the mobile communication device can be improved.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the light emitter is installed so as to emit light toward the same side as the direction of the display screen when operating the input operation key, and the light emitter is operated while the user operates the input operation key. It is easy to recognize that the light has been emitted. For this reason, it is possible to instantly confirm that the input operation key has been operated, and to prevent erroneous operations.

  In the third aspect of the present invention, the hinge portion side of the upper main body is formed in a concave shape so that the light emitter of the bulging portion can be seen from the outside even when the portable communication device is folded. I have to. Therefore, it is possible to easily visually recognize that the user has operated the input operation key.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the input operation key is provided on the side surface of the upper body or the lower body so that it can be known that the operation key has been operated without opening the mobile communication device. For this reason, it is not necessary to open the mobile communication device every time an operation is performed and to confirm whether the operation has been performed, so that the operability of the mobile communication device can be further improved.

  According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the user can know how long the state of operating the input operation key has been continued in the state of the light emitter. For this reason, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation when it is necessary to continuously operate the input operation key, and to improve the operability.

  In the sixth aspect of the invention, the light emitter is configured such that the light emission state changes according to the change in the emission color. In the seventh aspect, the light emitter is configured by combining single color light emitting elements of different colors. In the invention, the light emitter is composed of a multicolor light emitting element capable of developing two or more different colors. According to these inventions, it is possible to know how long the operation time of the input operation key has been continued due to a change in the color of the light emitter, so that an erroneous operation can be prevented.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the light emitting body is configured to change the light emission state by turning on or off or changing the blinking interval. For this reason, it is possible to know how long the operation time of the input operation key has been continued from the light emitting body issuance interval, and thus it is possible to prevent erroneous operation.

  According to the tenth aspect, since the light emission state of the light emitter changes stepwise, it is possible to visually know how long the operation has been continued by operating the input operation key. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation such as not pressing the input operation key and an erroneous operation when it is necessary to continuously operate the input operation key. In addition, when the transition from the first light emission state to the second light emission state is triggered, the operation of the input operation key can be released to interrupt the power-off process.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the invention, the end key performs the end process or the power-off process according to the duration for which the end key is pressed. As a result, the user can know that the power-off process has been started due to a change in the light emission state if the user continues to press the end-call key after the end of the end of the call, and the operability of the portable communication device can be improved. .

  According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the power-off process can be interrupted when shifting from the first light emission state to the second light emission state. For this reason, the operation of the input operation key can be canceled as necessary, and the power-off process can be easily interrupted.

  According to the thirteenth aspect, the mobile communication device is a mobile phone. For this reason, it is possible to obtain a mobile phone with high commercial value, which is easy to visually recognize that the user has operated the input operation key.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

-Appearance structure of mobile phone-
FIG. 1 shows an external configuration of a mobile phone 1 as a mobile communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mobile phone 1 is configured to be foldable, and FIG. 1 shows an open state.

  The mobile phone 1 includes an upper body 3 provided with a display screen 2, a lower body 5 provided with a plurality of input operation keys 4 such as a call key 4a and an end key 4b, an upper body 3 and a lower body. A hinge portion 6 is provided that folds and connects the side body 5 so as to be freely opened and closed.

  The hinge portion 6 includes a bulging portion 7 formed so as to bulge from a surface having the input operation key 4 of the lower main body 5, and a concave portion 8 formed in a concave shape in the upper main body 3. I have. The bulging portion 7 is fitted into the concave portion of the concave portion 8, and the concave portion 8 and the bulging portion 7 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the width direction of the mobile phone 1. In addition, the light emitting body 9 is installed in the bulging portion 7 so as to emit light toward the same side (user side) as the direction of the display screen 2 when the input operation key 4 is operated.

  FIG. 2 shows a closed state of the foldable mobile phone 1 shown in FIG.

  Since the upper body 3 is formed in a concave shape on the hinge portion 6 side, the surface on which the light emitter 9 of the bulging portion 7 is installed from the concave portion 8 of the upper body 3 even when the cellular phone 1 is folded. Can be seen from the outside. That is, the user can see the light emitter 9 regardless of whether the cellular phone 1 is folded.

-Electrical configuration of mobile phone-
Next, the electrical configuration of the mobile phone 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in this figure, the mobile phone 1 includes an input operation key 4, a display screen 2 (LCD: Liqid Crystal Display), a light emitter 9, a control unit 10, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 11, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, timer 13, radio wave circuit 14, antenna 15, and display drive circuit 16.

  An input operation key 4, a RAM 11, a ROM 12, a timer 13, a radio wave circuit 14, and a display drive circuit 16 are connected to the control unit 10. The radio wave circuit 14 is connected to the antenna 15, and the display drive circuit 16 is connected to the light emitter 9 and the display screen 2.

  The radio circuit 14 performs transmission / reception processing of communication data exchanged with the base station or other communication devices via the antenna 15.

  The input operation key 4 has a function of transmitting an input instruction or information to the control unit 10 based on the key operation.

  When an instruction or information is input by the input operation key 4, the control unit 10 activates the timer 13 as necessary. Furthermore, the display drive circuit 16 is controlled by the ROM 12 which is a read-only device and the RAM 11 which is a storage device based on the time during which the timer 13 is operating and the setting contents programmed in advance, and the light emitter 9 emits light. The operation of the state and the display screen 2 and the switching of the display contents are performed.

-Control operation of mobile phone-
Next, a control operation when the input operation key 4 is operated will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of control operation by the control unit 10 of the mobile phone 1 when the input operation key 4 is operated. In particular, this flowchart shows an operation state when the end key 4b is operated during a call.

  First, when the call end key 4b is operated in step S20 after starting from the state of talking, the timer 13 is activated in the subsequent step S21, the previous count is reset, and a new count is started. In step S22, the light emitter 9 is set to the first light emission state, and in step S23, the call termination process is executed.

  In a succeeding step S24, it is determined whether or not the end key 4b is in an on state. When it is in the on state, the process proceeds to step S25 to determine whether or not the first set time of the timer 13 has been consumed. In step S25, when the first set time is consumed, the process proceeds to step S26, and the light emitter 9 is changed to the second light emission state.

  In a succeeding step S27, it is determined whether or not the second set time of the timer 13 has been consumed. When the second set time is consumed, the light emitter 9 is changed to the third light emission state in step S28, the power-off process is executed in step S29, and the light-source 9 is turned off in step S31 at the same time as the power is turned off. Goes off, and the control ends.

  If the end key 4b is off in step S24, the process proceeds to step S31, the light emitter 9 is turned off, and the control ends.

  If the first set time of the timer 13 has not been consumed in step S25, the process returns to step S24.

  Here, if the end key 4b is turned off while the light emitter 9 is in the second light emission state, it is programmed in advance so as not to shift to the power-off process. The operation of the end call key 4b can be canceled and the power-off process can be interrupted. That is, if the second set time of the timer 13 has not been consumed in step S27, the process proceeds to step S30 to determine whether or not the end call key 4b is on. When it is in the on state, the process returns to step S27, and when it is in the off state, the light emitter 9 is turned off in step S31, and the control ends.

-Specific example-
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on specific examples.

  5 to 7 show time charts from a call state to an end-of-call state and further to a power-off state. 5 to 7 specifically show the respective light emission states of the light emitter 9, which are a first light emission state (blue), a second light emission state (yellow), and a third light emission state (red). The vertical axes in FIGS. 5 to 7 indicate the respective light emission states described above, the on / off state of the call end key 4b, and the state of the mobile phone 1, that is, the call state, the end of call state, or the power-off state, respectively. The horizontal axis represents time.

-(When only the end call processing is performed)-
First, the case where only the call termination process shown in FIG. 5 is performed will be described.

  In the operation in FIG. 5, the user presses the end call key 4 b in order to bring the mobile phone 1 in a call state to the end state. That is, the end call key 4b is turned on. As soon as the end key 4b is pressed, the end process is executed and the end of the conversation, and the light emitter 9 lights up in blue, which is the first light emitting state, to inform the user that the end key 4b is being operated. Then, the user recognizes that the user has visually operated the call end key 4b and that the call end process has been executed and ended the call, and the end key 4b is turned off and the light emitter 9 is turned off.

-(When power-off processing is performed)-
Next, the case where the power-off process shown in FIG. 6 is performed will be described.

  In the operation shown in FIG. 6, the user needs to keep pressing the end call key 4b for a predetermined time in order to turn off the cellular phone 1.

  First, the user operates the end call key 4b. At the same time, the end-of-call process is executed to end the call, and the light emitter 9 lights up in blue, which is the first light emission state, to inform the user that the end-call key 4b has been operated. Thus, the user visually recognizes that the end-call key 4b is operated, and holds the end-call key 4b in the on state. When the set time of the timer in the first light emission state is consumed, the light emitter 9 changes to yellow which is the second light emission state. Furthermore, if the set time of the timer in the second light emission state is consumed, the light emitter 9 changes to red which is the third light emission state, informs the user that the power is to be cut off, and executes the power-off process. At the same time, the light emitter 9 is turned off.

-(When interrupting power-off processing)-
Finally, the case where the power-off process shown in FIG. 7 is interrupted will be described.

  The process is the same as that in the power-off process described above until the light emitter 9 changes to yellow, which is the second light emission state.

  When the light emitter 9 changes to yellow, which is the second light emission state, the next step is determined by whether or not the end call key 4b is in the on state. If it is in the on state, as described above, the third light emission state is changed to red, the power-off process is executed, and the light emitter 9 is turned off. If it is in the off state, the light emitter 9 is turned off, the power-off process is canceled, and as a result, only the call termination process is performed.

  In this way, the user can visually recognize how long the input operation key 4 is held by changing the light emission state of the light emitter 9 according to the time during which the input operation key 4 is held in the on state. In the case where it is necessary to hold the input operation key 4, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation such as stopping the operation of the input operation key 4 before the set time required for the operation has been consumed. In addition, when the operation key 4 is turned off in the second light emission state, the power-off process is canceled, so that the user can visually recognize the opportunity to cancel the power-off process. Therefore, it becomes advantageous for prevention of erroneous operation.

  The light emission state such as the color, lighting, and blinking of the light emitter and the stage where the light emission state changes are not limited to the above.

(Other embodiments)
In the present embodiment, the end-call processing and power-off processing using the end-call key 4b in the foldable mobile phone 1 have been described. However, the input operation of the mobile phone 1 according to the present invention is limited to this. is not. The present invention can also be applied to processes other than the end-call process and the power-off process using the input operation key 4, for example.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the end call key is operated, that is, a case where the foldable mobile phone 1 is used in an opened state is described, but the mobile phone 1 is closed as shown in FIG. However, if the user can see the illuminant, the operation key is operated without opening the mobile phone 1 when the input operation key provided on the side surface of the mobile phone 1 is operated. I can know. As a result, when operating the input operation key provided on the side surface of the mobile phone 1 or the like, it is not necessary to open the mobile phone 1 every time the operation is performed and check whether the operation has been performed. Operability can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, an example of the cellular phone 1 has been shown as the portable communication device, but the present invention can be applied to a portable communication device such as PHS that can make a call.

  In the present embodiment, the display screen 2 is configured by an LCD, but may be configured by an organic EL display.

  As described above, the present invention is useful for a mobile communication device such as a mobile phone having an input operation key such as an end call key.

It is an external appearance block diagram (open state) of the foldable mobile telephone which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an external appearance block diagram (closed state) of a foldable mobile phone. It is an electrical block diagram of a mobile telephone. It is a flowchart showing the operation state of a mobile telephone. It is a time chart of the mobile phone in a call termination process. It is a time chart of the mobile telephone in a power-off process. It is a time chart of the mobile phone in the power-off process release.

Explanation of symbols

1 Mobile phone (mobile communication equipment)
2 Display screen 4b End key (input operation key)
9 Light emitter 10 Control section (control means)

Claims (13)

At least one input operation key for receiving instruction input or information input;
A light emitter that emits light by operation of the input operation key;
A portable communication device comprising: control means for controlling the light emitter in response to an operation of the input operation key. The mobile communication device according to claim 1,
With a display screen,
The mobile communication device, wherein the light emitter is installed so as to emit light toward the same side as the direction of the display screen when the input operation key is operated. The mobile communication device according to claim 2,
An upper body provided with the display screen; a lower body provided with the input operation key; and a hinge part that foldably connects the upper body and the lower body so as to be opened and closed.
The hinge portion includes a bulging portion that bulges from a surface having the input operation key of the lower main body, and a concave portion that is formed in a concave shape in the upper main body. The bulging portion is fitted, and the concave portion and the bulging portion are connected so as to be rotatable by an axis extending in the width direction,
The portable communication device, wherein the light emitting body is installed in the bulging portion so as to emit light toward the same side as a direction of the display screen when the input operation key is operated. The portable communication device according to claim 2 or 3,
The mobile communication device, wherein the input operation key is provided on a side surface of the upper body or the lower body. The mobile communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The mobile communication device, wherein the control means is configured to control the light emitter so that a light emission state changes when a state in which the input operation key is operated continues for a predetermined time. The mobile communication device according to claim 5, wherein
The mobile communication device, wherein the light emitter is configured to change a light emission state by a change in emission color. The mobile communication device according to claim 6, wherein
The light emitting body is configured by combining monochromatic light emitting elements of different colors. The mobile communication device according to claim 6, wherein
The light emitting body is composed of a multicolor light emitting element capable of developing two or more different colors. The mobile communication device according to claim 5, wherein
A portable communication device, wherein the light emitter is configured to change a light emission state by turning on or off or changing a blinking interval. The portable communication device according to any one of claims 5 to 9,
The control means turns on the first light emission state when the input operation of the input operation key is started, and enters the second light emission state when the input operation state continues for a preliminary time shorter than the predetermined time. The mobile communication device is configured to control the light emitter to change to a third light emission state when the input operation state continues for the predetermined time. The portable communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
The mobile communication device, wherein the input operation key is an end-call key that performs an end-call process and performs a power-off process when the input operation key is operated for the predetermined time. The mobile communication device according to claim 11, wherein
A portable communication device configured to be capable of interrupting a power-off process at the time of transition from the first light emission state to the second light emission state. The portable communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
A mobile communication device, which is a mobile phone.

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