JP2007195257A - Foldable type mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a foldable type mobile terminal in which an item can be selected and determined from a menu displayed on an image display screen even in a state where two cases of the foldable type mobile terminal are overlapped. <P>SOLUTION: A foldable type mobile terminal comprises auxiliary operating keys 42, 44 on any one of or both a lateral side 38 adjacent to the side of a first case 32 whereon an image display screen 12 is disposed, and a lateral side 40 adjacent to the side of a second case 34 whereon a main operating part is disposed. In a state where the first case and the second case are overlapped, a first menu 72 from which an item can be selected and determined by operating the auxiliary operating keys, is displayed on the image display screen. In a state where the first case and the second case are opened, a second menu 74 from which an item can be selected and determined by operating the main operating part, is displayed on the image display screen. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a stackable mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), and more specifically, includes a plurality of casings connected to each other so as to overlap each other, and is provided in any casing The present invention relates to a stackable portable terminal device that can be exposed to the outside in a state in which the display surface of the display unit is overlapped and in other states, and output information can be displayed on the display surface in either state.

  Conventionally, a foldable mobile phone 2 as shown in FIG. 12 is generally known as a foldable mobile terminal device capable of folding two housings. The foldable mobile phone 2 is provided with a display surface 12 such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for displaying output information and a speaker 13 on an inner surface 10 of one housing 4, and an inner surface of the other housing 6. 14 is provided with a main operation section 16 and a microphone 15.

  The main operation unit 16 is provided with a cross key 18, a numeric keypad, and other various keys that can be designated in the vertical and horizontal directions so that items displayed on the display surface 12 can be selected.

  Such a foldable mobile phone 2 displays various functions of the foldable mobile phone 2 on the display surface 12 as a selection screen, and at this time, understands what the various functions are. In order to be able to do so, there are some which are displayed as characters and arranged as shown in FIG.

  However, in the foldable mobile phone 2 as shown in FIG. 12, when one casing 4 and the other casing 6 are folded, the display surface 12 can be viewed only after the casing is opened. In the folded state, there is a problem that even if information is output to the display surface 12, it cannot be browsed. In order to solve such a troublesome and troublesome problem, some display screens 12 face outward even in a folded state or a corresponding state.

  As such a portable terminal device, for example, there is an overlapped portable terminal device as described in Patent Document 1. In the overlapped portable terminal device, in the state where the two casings to be connected are opened, the display surface provided in one casing is on the inner side in the same manner as the posture of the folding cellular phone 2 shown in FIG. It is suitable.

  However, unlike the foldable mobile phone 2, such a conventional lap-type mobile terminal device has a structure in which one casing can be folded and folded while being twisted by 180 degrees at the connecting portion of the two casings. Thus, the two housings can be overlapped with the display surface facing outward.

However, even if the user can see the display surface, the main operation unit is covered and hidden by the display-side housing if the two housings are overlapped. It cannot be operated. In order to solve such a problem, for example, as in the invention described in Patent Document 2, there is one in which auxiliary operation keys are arranged on the side surface of the casing.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-141984 JP 2002-33809 A

  By the way, since the width and area of the side surface of the casing are limited, it is difficult to place a cross key or a key corresponding thereto as an auxiliary operation key. Therefore, even if the various functions of the mobile phone 2 can be viewed through the display surface in a state where the two casings are overlapped, the items displayed in characters are arranged vertically as shown in FIG. Only the selection screens arranged one-dimensionally can be displayed, and the same selection screen is displayed on the display surface regardless of whether it is overlaid or opened.

  However, when displaying a selection screen in which items displayed in characters are arranged one-dimensionally on a display surface of a limited size like the mobile phone 2, the characters are small when trying to arrange many items at once. When the character is enlarged, the number of items that can be displayed at one time is reduced. When searching for a specific item, the selection screen must be scrolled by operating the auxiliary operation keys. There was an inconvenience in terms.

  In the conventional overlap type portable terminal device, the above-described selection screen is displayed regardless of the overlapped state and the opened state. Therefore, in the opened state, the up / down / left / right direction can be selected by the cross key or the like of the main operation unit. However, when selecting an item on the selection screen, only the operation in the vertical direction is used, so that the function of the main operation unit cannot be fully utilized.

  Therefore, the present invention provides different selection screens when the two casings are overlapped and opened, and when the main operation unit cannot be operated by overlapping the two casings, the operation is performed by the auxiliary operation unit. If the main operation unit can be operated by opening the two housings and displaying the selectable screen on the display surface, it is possible to perform operations that make use of the functions of the main operation unit and to make the display highly visible It is an object of the present invention to provide an overlapped portable terminal device in which a screen is displayed on a display unit.

  That is, in view of the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that at least a first housing having a display portion and at least a second housing having at least a main operation portion are connected in an openable / closable manner, and the main operation portion is closed. The display unit is closed by the first housing in the state and exposed to the outside in the open state, and the display surface of the display unit can be exposed to the outside in either the closed state or the open state. In the portable terminal device, the overlapped portable terminal device includes an auxiliary operation unit on a surface other than surfaces facing each other in the closed state, and the items are one-dimensional in the closed state. A first selection screen operated by the auxiliary operation unit arranged on the display unit is displayed on the display unit, and in the open state, items are arranged in a multidimensional manner and are operated by the main operation unit. 2 selection screen is displayed on the display And butterflies.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the overlapping portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the item of the first selection screen is a character display, and the item of the second selection screen is an icon display. It is characterized by that.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the overlapping portable terminal device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main operation unit has a key capable of two-dimensional operation, and the auxiliary operation unit is one-dimensional. It is characterized by having a lever that can be operated manually.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the overlapping portable terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the auxiliary operation unit is configured such that the first casing and the second casing are opened. In the state, the operation is invalidated.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the overlapping portable terminal device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the auxiliary operation unit is configured such that the first casing and the second casing are closed. In the state, the operation is validated.

  As described above, according to the stacked portable terminal device of the present invention, the user can select and determine various functions from the selection screen without bothering to open the two housings in the closed state. Can do. Further, different selection screens are provided in the open state and the closed state, and in the closed state, a first selection screen suitable for operation by the auxiliary operation unit is provided, and in the open state, a second selection screen suitable for operation by the main operation unit is provided. Since it can be displayed, the functions of the auxiliary operation unit and the main operation unit can be fully utilized.

  In particular, on the second selection screen, various functions can be intuitively understood by displaying items as icons, and a display screen having a limited size can be obtained by arranging icons in a multidimensional manner. Since many items can be displayed on the screen, visibility and operability can be improved.

  According to such an overlapped portable terminal device, the user selects and determines a specific item from the selection screen displayed on the display surface without bothering to open the two housings in the closed state. be able to. Also, in the state where the two housings are opened, it is convenient because a selection screen with good visibility can be displayed by making use of the function of the main operation unit, and a specific item can be selected and determined.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a stacked portable terminal device according to the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 to FIG. 11 are diagrams which are referred to for explaining a stackable mobile phone 30 according to an embodiment of the stackable mobile terminal device of the present invention. In the overlap type mobile phone 30 shown in these drawings, the same parts as those of the conventional folding mobile phone 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description of the same configuration as the conventional one is omitted. .

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the overlap type mobile phone 30 includes a first housing 32 and a second housing 34, and is provided in a direction penetrating the first housing 32 and the second housing 34. Are connected by a shaft 36.

  The stackable mobile phone 30 is located on the opposite side of the first casing 32 to the second casing 34 so that the display surface 12 can be seen from the outside even when the first casing 32 and the second casing 34 are stacked. The display unit 11 is provided on the surface, and the side keys 38 as auxiliary operation units are provided on the side surfaces 38 and 40 of the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 so that they can be operated. A three-way lever 44 is provided.

  Reference numerals 13a and 13b denote speakers provided on the surface of the first housing 32 on which the display unit 11 is arranged, which are arranged up and down across the display unit 11, and 15 denotes the second housing 34. This is a microphone provided on the surface on which the main operation unit 16 is disposed.

  The stackable mobile phone 30 rotates the first casing 32 by 180 degrees around the shaft 36 as indicated by the arrow a from the state where the first casing 32 and the second casing 34 are overlapped. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the main operation unit 16 provided in the second housing 34 can be seen in the outside and in an open state. At this time, since the display surface 12 is rotated in a state in which the display surface 12 faces substantially the same direction as the main operation unit 16, the display surface 12 can be seen from the outside even in the opened state.

  Note that the overlap type mobile phone 30 according to the present embodiment has a structure in which the first housing 32 rotates around the shaft 36, but as another embodiment, a rail or the like is provided. It is good also as a structure which the 1st housing | casing 32 slides in the direction shown by the arrow b with respect to the 2nd housing | casing 34 from the state shown in FIG.

  Alternatively, as in the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-141984, the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 are connected, and the connecting portion can perform both the folding operation and the twisting operation. Such a structure may be used.

  Therefore, even if the stacked portable terminal device has such a structure, as in the stacked mobile phone 30 according to the present embodiment, the state shown in FIGS. It can be in such a state. For this reason, in the present invention, the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is referred to as an “overlapping state” or a “closed state”, and the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is referred to as an “open state”. .

  Next, the main operation unit 16, the side key 42, the three-way lever 44, and the like will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the stackable mobile phone 30 operates the main operation unit 16 provided inside the second casing 34 when the first casing 32 and the second casing 34 are opened. And the cross key 18 can also be used. At this time, in order to prevent malfunction, the operation performed by the side key 42 and the three-way lever 44 is made invalid.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the stackable mobile phone 30 is provided with a camera 46, a mirror 48, and a recording microphone 50 on the back thereof, which are opened by the first housing 32 and the second housing 34. It can operate in the state where it is in a state of being stacked or being overlaid.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the three-way lever 44 used in a state where the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 are overlapped moves in the upward direction (arrow c) and the downward direction (arrow d). And can be pushed (arrow e) toward the center.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8 in the closed state, when the items of the first selection screen 72 displayed on the display surface 12 are arranged vertically (one-dimensional arrangement), the three-way lever 44 The operation can be assigned to selection of an item when moved upward (arrow c) and downward (arrow d), and to determination of the selected item when pressed down (arrow e) in the center direction.

  FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the superposition type mobile phone 30, and various functional units indicated by reference numeral 60 operate under the control unit 62. In this circuit, the state detection means (state detection unit) 64 is not shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, but the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 are in the closed state or in the open state. It is to detect whether there is any. Such state detection means 64 may be provided with, for example, a contact point that is brought into conduction by the rotation of the first housing 32, or may be provided with a mechanical switch or a sensor.

  When the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 are opened (open state), the state detection unit 64 outputs a signal to that effect to the control unit 62. The control unit 62 receives this signal and locks the operation so that the operation becomes invalid even if the side key 42 and the three-way lever 44 are operated.

  In addition, when the first casing 32 is rotated 180 ° from the open state and overlapped with the second casing 34, the screen orientation of the display surface 12 is reversed upside down. The screen is reversed 180 ° and displayed.

  When the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 are overlapped (closed state), the state detection unit 64 outputs a signal to that effect to the control unit 62, and the side key 42. And the operation invalid lock of the three-way lever 44 is released to enable the operation.

Furthermore, the overlap type mobile phone 30 can operate various functions even in the closed state as well as the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 being opened, and particularly makes a call. You can also.

  That is, when there is an incoming call to the stacked cellular phone 30 in the open state, an independent ring tone sounds from the two speakers 13a and 13b, and a ring tone having a stereo effect is emitted. When the key is pressed, the ring tone stops, the speaker 13b becomes inactive, the speaker 13a becomes the receiving speaker, and the microphone 15 operates to make a call. When the mobile phone 30 receives an incoming call, a ringing tone having a stereo effect is emitted from the two speakers 13a and 13b as in the open state, and when the three-way lever 44 of the auxiliary operation unit is pressed in the center direction, the incoming call is received. The sound stops, the speaker 13a becomes inactive, the speaker 13b becomes the receiving speaker, and the microphone 15 operates to make a call. It has to be able to bet.

  Next, FIG. 7 to FIG. 9 show images displayed on the display surface 12. FIG. 7 shows a standby screen 70 that is displayed when the overlapping mobile phone 30 has not been operated for a certain period of time.

  FIG. 8 is a first selection screen 72 in a state where the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 are overlapped (closed state). In the state where the first casing 32 and the second casing 34 are overlapped, the operation by the side key 42 and the three-way lever 44 is performed, and accordingly, the first selection screen 72 has various functions. As character string items, they are arranged vertically (one-dimensionally).

  In the figure, the e-mail item is highlighted, but the user is made to recognize that the highlighted item is selected. The user confirms that the item to be operated is highlighted and presses the three-way lever 44 at the center position (arrow e in FIG. 5) to determine the item.

  FIG. 9 shows a second selection screen 74 in a state where the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 are opened (open state). In the state where the first casing 32 and the second casing 34 are opened, the cross key 18 of the main operation unit 16 can be used, and accordingly, the second selection screen 74 has various functions. It is displayed by two-dimensionally arranged icons.

  In the figure, the address book icon is surrounded by a frame, but this is to make the user recognize that the item surrounded by the frame is selected. is there.

  Thus, since the 1st selection screen 72 and the 2nd selection screen 74 display various functions of superposition type cellular phone 30 in an item, a user can choose specific function from these items. Can be selected. Further, when the user selects a specific function from these items, more detailed items of the specified function are displayed in the same manner as the first selection screen 72 and the second selection screen 74. can do. For this reason, in the present invention, the selection screen refers to a menu screen for displaying various functions itemically or a screen for displaying items in various functions, which can be selected by the operation unit. To do.

  Next, based on the flowcharts of FIG. 10 and FIG.

  When the first casing 32 and the second casing 34 of the lap-type mobile phone 30 are in the closed state and have not been operated for a certain period of time, the standby screen 70 shown in FIG. (Step S1). In this state, if the user does not perform any operation (No “N” in step S2), the standby screen 70 is continuously displayed on the display surface 12 (step S1).

  When the user depresses the three-way lever 44 of the second housing 34 at the center position to perform some operation (Yes “Y” in step S2), the first selection screen 72 of FIG. Is displayed (step S3). When an item desired by the user is selected and determined from the first selection screen 72 (Yes in step S4), the operation is shifted to the operation of each function corresponding to the item (step S5).

  In step S4, the user does not select a specific item from the first selection screen 72 or does not perform an operation for determining the specific item after selecting the specific item (No “N” in step S4). When the first casing 32 is opened with respect to the second casing (opening operation, Yes “Y” in step S6), the process proceeds to step S8 in FIG.

  Further, when the opening operation for opening the first housing 32 is not performed in Step S6 (No “N”), the operation is not performed for a certain period of time or the side key 42 of the first housing 32 is pressed (Step S6). If “Yes” in S7), the standby screen 70 is again displayed on the display surface 12 (step S1). In addition, when the three-way lever 44 is operated within a predetermined time in Step S7 (No “N”), the state where the first selection screen 72 of FIG. 8 is displayed on the display surface 12 is maintained. .

  When the first casing 32 is opened with respect to the second casing 34 in step S6, the cross key 18 or the like of the main operation unit 16 can be used. Locking is performed to invalidate the operation of the key 42 and the three-way lever 44 (step S8). Then, the second selection screen 74 with the icons of FIG. 9 is displayed on the display surface 12 (step S9).

  The user can select and determine an item desired by the user from the second selection screen 74 with the cross key 18, and when the selection and determination are made (Yes “Y” in step S10), the item corresponds to the item. Transition is made to the operation of each function (step S11).

  At this time, since the second selection screen 74 displays items as icons, the user can intuitively understand the function of each item and arrange such icons in two dimensions vertically and horizontally. As a result, a large number of items can be displayed on the display surface 12 at a time.

  In addition, in the open state in which the second selection screen 74 is displayed, the main operation unit 16, in particular, the cross key 18 capable of up / down / left / right operation can be used. A desired icon (item) can be easily selected and determined.

  In addition, the user does not select a specific item from the second selection screen 74 or does not perform an operation for determining the specific item after selecting the specific item (No “N” in step S10). When the first casing 32 and the second casing 34 are overlapped (closing operation, Yes “Y” in step S12), the operation key lock of the side key 42 and the three-way lever 44 is released, and FIG. The process proceeds to step S3.

  Further, the user does not select a specific item from the second selection screen 74, or does not perform an operation for determining this after selecting the specific item (No “N” in step S10). Without closing the first housing 32 and the second housing 34 (No “N” in step S12), the operation is not performed for a certain period of time, or any specific key of the main operation unit 32, for example, F1 When the (function 1) key is pressed (Yes in step S14), the standby screen 70 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display surface 12 (step S15).

  Here, since the standby screen 70 displayed in step S15 remains open by not performing the closing operation, it is displayed so that the vertical direction is opposite to the standby screen 70 in the closed state of step S1. The

  When the cross key 18 of the main operation unit 16 is operated in the state of step S15 in which the standby screen 70 is displayed on the display surface 12 (Yes in step S16), the display surface 12 is again displayed as shown in FIG. A second selection screen 74 with the nine icons is displayed (step S9).

  In step S4 of FIG. 10, after the user selects a specific item from the first selection screen 72 shown in FIG. 8, the first casing 32 is moved without performing an operation for determining the selected item. When the second casing 34 is opened (Yes in step S6), the specific item selected in step 4 is displayed on the second selection screen 74 using the icon shown in FIG. An item corresponding to the item may be selected.

  1 to 4 show an example in which the auxiliary operation units are arranged on the side surfaces 38 and 40 of the first casing 32 and the second casing 34. The first housing 32 and the second housing 34 in a closed state, such as the surface of the first housing 32 on which the display unit 11 is disposed and the end surface adjacent to the surface of the second housing 34 on which the main operation unit 16 is disposed. It suffices if they are arranged on surfaces other than the surfaces facing each other.

  However, in consideration of the operability with one hand in the closed state, the auxiliary operation unit includes the side surface adjacent to the surface on which the display unit 11 of the first housing 32 is disposed and / or the main operation unit 16 of the second housing 34. It is preferable to provide on the side surface adjacent to the surface to be arranged.

  As mentioned above, although the embodiment of the stacking type portable terminal device according to the present invention has been shown, the present invention is similar in technology even when the stacking type portable terminal device is constituted by three or more cases. Needless to say, it can be applied on the basis of specific ideas.

  Furthermore, although the mobile phone has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention can be similarly applied to other types of mobile terminal devices such as a PDA.

  In addition, a state detection unit that detects opening and closing of both housings and a control unit that switches the display screen of the display unit are provided, and the control unit switches the first selection screen and the second according to the opening / closing state based on the state detection unit. By switching the selection screen, it is possible to display the selection screen according to the open / closed state, and to select the specific item on the first or second selection screen by the opening operation or the closing operation. When the screen is switched, an item corresponding to the specific item is selected, which is convenient because there is no need to redo the operation.

1 is a front view showing a stacked mobile phone 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a left side view of the overlapping mobile phone 30 in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state in which the overlapping mobile phone 30 in FIG. 1 is opened. FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the opened state of the overlapping mobile phone 30 in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing a three-way lever 44 in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the stacked mobile phone 30 in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the standby screen 70 displayed on the display surface 12 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the selection screen 72 displayed on the display surface 12 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the selection screen 74 displayed on the display surface 12 in FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the overlapping mobile phone 30 in FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the overlapping mobile phone 30 in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the conventional folding type mobile telephone 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

2 Folding type mobile phones 4 and 6 Case 10 Inner side surface 11 Display unit 12 Image display surfaces 13a and 13b Speaker 14 Inner side surface 15 Microphone 16 Main operation unit 18 Cross key 30 Overlapping type mobile phone 32 First case 34 Second case Body 36 Axis 38, 40 Side 42 Side key 44 Three-way lever 46 Camera 48 Mirror 50 Recording microphone 60 Various functional units 62 Control unit 64 State detection means 70 Standby screen 72 First selection screen 74 Second selection screen

Claims (5)

A first housing having at least a display unit and a second housing having at least a main operation unit are connected to be openable and closable, and the main operation unit is closed and closed by the first housing. And the display surface of the display unit can be exposed to the outside in either the closed state or the open state, and the overlapped mobile terminal device is In the closed state, an auxiliary operation unit is provided on a surface other than the mutually opposing surfaces of the two housings, and in the closed state, items are arranged one-dimensionally and are operated by the auxiliary operation unit. The selection screen is displayed on the display unit, and in the open state, a second selection screen operated by the main operation unit in which items are arranged in a multidimensional manner is displayed on the display unit. A stack type portable terminal device characterized by the above. 2. The overlapping portable terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the item on the first selection screen is a character display, and the item on the second selection screen is an icon display. 3. The stacked portable device according to claim 1, wherein the main operation unit has a key capable of two-dimensional operation, and the auxiliary operation unit has a lever capable of one-dimensional operation. Terminal device. 4. The overlap according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary operation unit is disabled when the first housing and the second housing are in an open state. 5. Type mobile terminal device. The overlap operation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the auxiliary operation unit is enabled to operate when the first housing and the second housing are in a closed state. Type mobile terminal device.

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