JP2008022191A - Keyboard for portable telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyboard for a portable telephone with portability, which is combined with a portable telephone, and operated with both hands. <P>SOLUTION: A right keyboard 20 mainly operated by a right hand is disposed on one surface. A right half 12 with an outer shape covering one surface of the portable telephone 22, and a left keyboard 24 mainly operated by a left hand, are disposed on the other surface. The keyboard is equipped with a left half 14 which has an outer shape covering the other surface of the portable telephone 22; a joint 16 which is equipped with a flexible band 30 that is disposed at the side of the portable telephone 22, and equipped with two ends 26 and 28, with the one end 26 connected to the right half 12 and the other end 28 connected to the left half 14; and a connector 18 which has a function to transfer the operating signals of the right keyboard 20 and the left keyboard 24 to the portable telephone 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cellular phone keyboard used for connecting to a cellular phone and inputting characters.

Since the keyboard of a mobile phone is small, it is devised so that characters can be input with one finger. On the other hand, a technique for connecting a large-sized keyboard to a mobile phone has also been introduced (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-202837 A

  The known prior art has the following problems to be solved. That is, operability is greatly improved by connecting a keyboard that can be operated with both hands to input characters to the mobile phone. However, it is troublesome to always carry a relatively large keyboard apart from the mobile phone. In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a mobile phone keyboard that can be integrated with a mobile phone and operated with both hands without being bothered to carry.

The following configuration is means for solving the above problems.
<Configuration 1> A right half having an outer shape covering one side of the mobile phone with a right keyboard arranged on one side, and a left half having an outer shape covering the other side of the mobile phone with the left keyboard arranged on one side A connecting portion having a flexible band-like portion disposed on a side surface of the mobile phone, having one end connected to the right half and the other end connected to the left half, and the right keyboard and the left keyboard A keyboard for a mobile phone, comprising: a connector having a function of transferring an operation signal to the mobile phone.

  Since the right half, the left half, and the connecting portion cover the mobile phone, it functions as a protective cover for the mobile phone when dropped. Further, if it is detached from the mobile phone, it functions as a keyboard that can input character data and the like using both hands. Since it is integrated with the mobile phone, there is no need to carry a separate keyboard for character input.

  <Configuration 2> In the cellular phone keyboard according to Configuration 1, a portion of the right half that contacts one surface of the cellular phone is provided with an adsorption structure portion that adsorbs to the one surface, and the left half The mobile phone keyboard is characterized in that a portion of the part that contacts the other surface of the mobile phone is provided with an adsorption structure portion that adsorbs to the other surface.

  By this adsorption structure part, the right half part adheres to one surface of the mobile phone, and the left half part adheres to the other surface of the mobile phone.

  <Configuration 3> In the cellular phone keyboard according to Configuration 1, the peripheral portion of the right half portion and the peripheral portion of the left half portion are connected to each other by a sewing member. keyboard.

  When the peripheral part of the right half part and the peripheral part of the left half part are connected to each other by a sewing member, the mobile phone keyboard becomes a bag structure that wraps the entire mobile phone, and the protection function such as waterproofing is enhanced.

  <Configuration 4> In the cellular phone keyboard according to any one of Configurations 1 to 3, the connection portion includes an expansion / contraction structure that can expand and contract a distance between the connected right half and left half. Keyboard for mobile phones.

  If the connecting portion can be extended as well as bent, the distance between the right keyboard and the left keyboard can be selected so that the left and right hands do not collide with each other.

  <Configuration 5> In the mobile phone keyboard according to any one of configurations 1 to 4, the right keyboard is arranged on a portion of the right half that contacts one surface of the mobile phone, and the left half A keyboard for a mobile phone, wherein the left keyboard is arranged at a portion in contact with the other surface of the mobile phone.

  If keyboards are arranged in contact with the surface of the mobile phone, both keyboards are protected from injury.

  <Configuration 6> In the cellular phone keyboard according to Configuration 5, decoration is provided on a back surface of the right half portion on which the right keyboard is arranged and a back surface of the left half portion on which the left keyboard is arranged. A keyboard for a mobile phone, wherein sheets are laminated.

  Cushioning is effective in protecting mobile phones and improving keyboard operability.

  <Configuration 7> In the mobile phone keyboard according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, the connector includes a connection cable and a connector for transferring operation signals of the right keyboard and the left keyboard to the mobile phone. A cellular phone keyboard having a function of transmitting a mode selection signal for automatically switching the cellular phone to a character input mode when the connector is connected to the cellular phone.

  When the keyboard is connected to the mobile phone, it automatically enters the character input mode, so it is possible to immediately create a mail and improve operability.

  <Configuration 8> In the mobile phone keyboard according to any one of configurations 1 to 5, the connector performs wireless communication with the mobile phone and transfers operation signals of the right keyboard and the left keyboard to the mobile phone. A mobile phone keyboard comprising: a connection terminal that is connected to a power output terminal of the mobile phone and charges the connector.

  The operability can be remarkably improved by adopting a cordless system capable of driving a mobile phone keyboard with electric power.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail for each example.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a method for using the cellular phone keyboard according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 1A shows a state immediately before the mobile phone keyboard 10 is attached to the mobile phone 22. As shown in the figure, the mobile phone keyboard 10 includes a right half portion 12, a left half portion 14, a connecting portion 16, and a connector 18. The right half portion 12 has an outer shape covering one surface of the mobile phone 22 with the right keyboard 20 operated mainly by the right hand arranged on one surface. The left half portion 14 has an outer shape in which a left keyboard 24 operated mainly by the left hand is arranged on one surface and covers the other surface of the mobile phone 22. The connecting portion 16 is disposed on the rear side surface of the mobile phone 22 and has a function of connecting the right half portion 12 and the left half portion 14 of the mobile phone keyboard so as not to be separated.

  A keyboard of a personal computer or the like has a part mainly operated by the right hand and a part mainly operated by the left hand. The cellular phone keyboard 10 has a two-part structure of a right half 12 and a left half 14. The right keyboard 20 operated mainly by the right hand is arranged on one surface of the right half portion 12, and the left keyboard 24 operated mainly by the left hand is arranged on one surface of the left half portion 14. One surface of the right half 12 is either the front surface or the back surface of the right half 12. Similarly, the one surface of the left half portion 14 is either the front surface or the back surface of the right half portion 12. The back side of the one side on which the keyboard is arranged is in close contact with the mobile phone 22. When the mobile phone 22 is carried, the entire surface of the mobile phone 22 is protected as shown in FIG. Since the right half portion 12, the left half portion 14, and the connecting portion 16 cover the mobile phone 22, it functions as a protective cover for the mobile phone 22 when dropped.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state immediately before the mobile phone keyboard is connected to the mobile phone.
The connector 18 shown in FIG. 1 was in close contact with the back side of the connecting portion 16 and was not visible. As shown in FIG. 2, the connector 18 includes a connection cable 32 having a connector 34 attached to the tip, for example. By connecting the connector 34 to the mobile phone 22, the operation signal of the right keyboard 20 and the left keyboard 24 is transferred to the mobile phone 22. Note that the mobile phone keyboard 10 and the mobile phone 22 may be connected wirelessly. At this time, the connector 18 having a wireless communication function is embedded in the connecting portion 16.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the vicinity of the connecting portion with the cellular phone keyboard opened.
The connecting portion 16 has a bendable belt-like portion 30 in which one end 26 is connected to the right half portion 12 of the cellular phone keyboard 10 and the other end 28 is connected to the left half portion 14. The bendable strip 30 has a function of folding the right half 12 and the left half 14 like a hinge. The bendable strip 30 may be a known hinge structure or may be a flexible plate that can be easily bent. In the embodiment, the right half portion 12, the left half portion 14, and the connecting portion 16 are integrally formed of plastic.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the connecting portion in a state in which the cellular phone keyboard is opened.
In this embodiment, the cellular phone keyboard 10 and the cellular phone 22 are electrically connected by a dedicated connector 34 and a connection cable 32. The connector 18 may be only the connector 34 without using the connection cable 32. A signal line 36 for connecting the right keyboard 20 and the left keyboard 24 is embedded in the connecting portion 16. When a wireless communication device is connected with this signal line, it becomes cordless. If wireless communication devices are provided independently for the right keyboard 20 and the left keyboard 24, the signal line 36 is also unnecessary.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a use state of the cellular phone keyboard.
As shown in the figure, the cellular phone keyboard 10 functions as a keyboard capable of inputting character data or the like using both hands. The connection cable 32 of the mobile phone keyboard 10 is extended to connect the connector 34 to the mobile phone 22. As a result, it is possible to input an email text or the like with both hands while looking at the display of the mobile phone 22. Since it is integrated with the mobile phone 22 as shown in FIG. 1, it is not necessary to carry a keyboard for character input separately.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a cellular phone keyboard according to the second embodiment.
An adsorption structure portion 38 is provided in a portion of the right half portion 12 that is in contact with one surface of the mobile phone 22. An adsorption structure portion 38 is also provided in a portion of the left half portion 14 that is in contact with the other surface of the mobile phone 22. The adsorbing structure 38 can be constituted by, for example, a synthetic rubber sucker. Alternatively, it can be constituted by a magnet or the like. By this suction structure portion 38, the right half portion 12 is in close contact with one surface of the mobile phone 22, and the left half portion 14 is in close contact with the other surface of the mobile phone 22. Therefore, the mobile phone keyboard can be easily and securely attached to the mobile phone.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a part of a mobile phone keyboard according to the third embodiment.
The peripheral part of the right half part 12 and the peripheral part of the left half part 14 of the mobile phone keyboard 10 are connected to each other by a sewing member 40. For the sewing member 40, a fastener frequently used for clothes or the like can be used. Moreover, the thing by the meshing of the uneven | corrugated groove | channel often used for sealing of a plastic bag etc. can also be utilized. Furthermore, a hook-and-loop fastener that engages and connects a large number of fine plastic protrusions can also be used. If the peripheral part of the right half part 12 and the peripheral part of the left half part 14 are mutually connected by the sewing member 40, the mobile phone keyboard 10 becomes a bag structure that wraps the entire mobile phone 22, and the protection function is enhanced.

  In this embodiment, the left half 14 and the right half 12 are surrounded by using a well-known sewing member 40 made of a fastener and a decorative sheet 41. The left half part 14 and the right half part 12 are both integrally fixed to the inside of the decorative sheet 41 by a method such as adhesion. The decorative sheet 41 is made of, for example, a woven fabric with decoration. Further, the left keyboard 24 and the right keyboard 20 are provided on the surface in contact with the mobile phone 22. That is, the right keyboard 20 is arranged in a portion of the right half 12 that is in contact with one surface of the mobile phone 22. A left keyboard 24 is arranged on the left half 14 in contact with the other surface of the mobile phone 22.

  When the keyboards are arranged on the surface in contact with the mobile phone 22, both keyboards are hidden when the right half portion 12 and the left half portion 14 are brought into close contact with each other so as to cover the mobile phone 22. Therefore, both keyboards are protected from injury. Further, as described above, the decorative sheet 41 can be laminated on the back surface of the right half portion 12 on which the right keyboard 20 is arranged and the back surface of the left half portion 14 on which the left keyboard 24 is arranged. . Since the back side of the keyboard of the right half part 12 and the left half part 14 covers the entire surface of the mobile phone 22 and is visible on the outside, the decorative sheet can be laminated to increase the commercial value. The decorative sheet may be made of plastic or cloth. When the suture member 40 is opened and opened, the state as described with reference to FIG. 5 is obtained. At this time, the decorative sheet 41 is located below the keyboard and serves as a cushion. Therefore, the decorative sheet is effective in protecting the mobile phone 22 and improving the operability of the keyboard.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the connecting portion of the cellular phone keyboard according to the fourth embodiment.
The connection part 16 has an elastic structure part 42 that can expand and contract the distance between the connected right half part 12 and left half part 14. The elastic structure part 42 can be comprised by a bellows or a mesh, for example. If the connecting portion 16 can be extended as well as bent, the distance between the right keyboard 20 and the left keyboard 24 can be selected so that the left and right hands do not collide, and the operability is improved. In the state shown in FIG. 5, the right hand and the left hand may be too close. The stretchable structure portion 42 is sufficiently stretchable. Accordingly, the distance between the right half 12 and the left half 14 can be arbitrarily adjusted.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a mode selection operation of the cellular phone keyboard.
As described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the connector 18 of the mobile phone keyboard transfers the operation signals of the right keyboard 20 and the left keyboard 24 to the mobile phone 22. The connector 18 includes a connection cable 32 and a connector 34. In this embodiment, when the connector 34 is connected to the mobile phone 22, a mode selection signal for automatically switching the mobile phone 22 to the character input mode is transmitted.

  For example, when the connector 34 is connected to the connector 46 of the mobile phone 22, the mode of the mobile phone 22 is automatically switched using the level change of the terminal 44 on the mobile phone 22 side as a trigger. That is, as shown in FIG. 9A, the signal pin 48 of the connection cable 32 connected to the connector 34 of the cellular phone keyboard is connected to the ground pin 47 in advance. The signal pin 48 is an empty pin that is not used for transferring the key operation signal. On the other hand, the terminal 44 on the mobile phone 22 side is set to the TTL high level state. The terminal 44 is connected to the input side of the detector 49.

  The detector 49 is a circuit that outputs a mode selection command 50 when the terminal 44 is switched from a high level to a low level. Therefore, when the connector 34 is connected to the connector 46 of the mobile phone 22, the terminal 44 is switched from the high level to the low level, and the mode selection command 50 is output. Thus, the mode switching operation is automatically executed inside the mobile phone. As shown in FIG. 9B, the cellular phone that has displayed the standby screen 61 so far switches to a state in which the document input screen 62 is displayed in accordance with this operation.

  For example, for a user who only uses mail, this input screen becomes a mail document input screen. In addition, in the case of a user who creates a memo using a mobile phone, the screen may be set to be a memo input screen. In the above embodiment, the output signal of the signal pin 48 of the connector 34 is the mode selection signal. The mode selection signal may be a command for directly switching the mode of the mobile phone 22 or a trigger signal for generating a command for directly switching the mode inside the mobile phone 22. When the cellular phone keyboard 10 is connected, it automatically enters the character input mode, so that operations such as mail creation can be performed immediately and operability is improved.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the main part of the mobile phone keyboard according to the sixth embodiment.
In this embodiment, the operation signals of the right keyboard 20 and the left keyboard 24 are transferred to the mobile phone 22 by the built-in wireless communication device 65. This wireless communicator 65 is a connector for connecting a mobile phone keyboard and a mobile phone. Electric power is required to drive the wireless communication device 65. A battery for driving the wireless communication device 65 is also built in, but is charged by the mobile phone 22. That is, the wireless communication device is charged through the connection terminal 66 connected to the power output terminal of the mobile phone 22. When the keyboard is used, the connection terminal 66 is disconnected from the mobile phone 22. Thereby, a cordless keyboard operation becomes possible.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a method for using the cellular phone keyboard according to the first embodiment. The perspective view which shows the state just before connecting with a mobile telephone. The side view of the connection part vicinity in the state which opened the keyboard for mobile phones. The top view of the connection part in the state which opened the keyboard for mobile phones. The perspective view which shows the use condition of the keyboard for mobile phones. The side view which shows the keyboard for mobile phones of Example 2. FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a part of a mobile phone keyboard according to a third embodiment. The side view which shows the connection part of the keyboard for mobile phones of Example 4. FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows mode selection operation | movement of the keyboard for mobile phones. The principal part side view of the keyboard for mobile phones of Example 6. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 mobile phone keyboard, 12 right half, 14 left half, 16 connecting portion, 18 connector, 20 right keyboard, 22 mobile phone, 24 left keyboard, 26 one end, 28 other end, 30 flexible band

Claims (8)

A right half with a right keyboard arranged on one side and an outer shape covering one side of the mobile phone;
A left keyboard having an outer shape that arranges a left keyboard on one side and covers the other side of the mobile phone;
A connecting portion disposed on a side surface of the mobile phone, having a bendable belt-like portion having one end connected to the right half and the other end connected to the left half;
A keyboard for a mobile phone, comprising: a connector having a function of transferring an operation signal of the right keyboard and the left keyboard to the mobile phone. The mobile phone keyboard according to claim 1,
The portion of the right half that is in contact with one surface of the mobile phone is provided with an adsorbing structure that adsorbs to the one surface, and the portion of the left half that is in contact with the other surface of the mobile phone is A keyboard for a mobile phone, characterized in that an adsorption structure portion that adsorbs to the other surface is provided. The mobile phone keyboard according to claim 1,
The mobile phone keyboard characterized in that the peripheral portion of the right half and the peripheral portion of the left half are connected to each other by a sewing member. The mobile phone keyboard according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The mobile phone keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion has an expansion / contraction structure that can expand and contract a distance between the connected right half and left half. The mobile phone keyboard according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The right keyboard is arranged on a portion of the right half that contacts one surface of the mobile phone, and the left keyboard is arranged on a portion of the left half that contacts the other surface of the mobile phone. A keyboard for mobile phones. The mobile phone keyboard according to claim 5,
A cellular phone keyboard, wherein a decoration sheet is laminated on a back surface of the right half portion on which the right keyboard is arranged and a back surface of the left half portion on which the left keyboard is arranged. . The mobile phone keyboard according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The connector comprises a connection cable and a connector for transferring operation signals of the right keyboard and the left keyboard to the mobile phone. When the connector is connected to the mobile phone, the mobile phone is automatically in a character input mode. A cellular phone keyboard having a function of sending a mode selection signal for switching to The mobile phone keyboard according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The connector is a wireless communication device that wirelessly communicates with a mobile phone and transfers operation signals of the right keyboard and the left keyboard to the mobile phone, and is connected to a power output terminal of the mobile phone, A cellular phone keyboard comprising a connection terminal for charging the connector.

Images