JP2008090749A - Portable electronic apparatus, and method of controlling portable electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable electronic apparatus in which a processing response can be prevented from being deteriorated even when a plurality of function parts are added without significantly changing the basic configuration of the portable electronic apparatus, and to provide its control method. <P>SOLUTION: A prescribed function part such as a touch sensor and the other function part such as an infrared communication part are switchably connected to an interface part capable of transmitting/receiving signals to/from a control part included in the portable electronic apparatus, and when the start of the other function part is requested, a communication port of the interface part to the prescribed function part is transited to a close state and then a communication port to the other function part is switched to an open state, and in the case of ending the other function part, the communication port to the other function part is switched to the close state and then the communication port to the prescribed function part is switched so as to be transited to the open state. In the case of using any one of the function parts, a connection part of the interface part is switched so as to be connected to the function part to be used. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable electronic device, and more particularly to a portable electronic device configured to connect a plurality of functional units to a control unit via a single interface unit and a control method thereof.

  Conventionally, various interfaces and configurations have been developed as operation input units for portable electronic devices. For example, there is known a portable electronic device provided with a rotary dial input device, and a cursor displayed on a display unit is moved according to the amount of rotation of the rotary dial input device (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

  However, since the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses a “rotary dial” that involves physical and mechanical rotation, malfunction and failure are likely to occur due to mechanical wear and the like, and maintenance of the operation input unit is difficult. There is a problem that it is necessary or has a short service life.

  As what can solve such a problem, for example, a touch sensor element that does not involve physical or mechanical rotation is used as an operation input unit (for example, see Patent Documents 2 and 3). In this proposed technology, a plurality of touch sensor elements are arranged in a ring shape, and contact detection by each touch sensor element is monitored. When continuous contact detection is detected, the touch detection element is detected according to the movement of the contact detection point. Then, it is determined that an instruction to move the cursor has occurred, and the cursor is moved.

Patent Document 4 is proposed as an example in which a plurality of functional units are connected to an interface provided in a mobile phone.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-280792 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-522797 JP 2004-31196 A JP 2001-306495 A

  By the way, in recent portable electronic devices, many models having various functions are designed. However, in all models, if the basic design is performed from scratch, enormous time and cost are required for the design convenience. For this reason, a method has been generalized in which most of the rough blocks are designed in advance, and new designs are made only for devices that are mounted only on some models. Consider a case where a new operation device that is not installed in another model, such as the touch sensor described above, that is installed only in some high-end models, is added to the function of the mobile phone.

  In the case where the device to be added is a user interface such as a touch sensor disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3, since the number of signals to be transmitted is very large and complicated, the basic design of the portable electronic device must be reviewed. Further, if a device is simply added, a signal resulting from the operation cannot be sent to the control unit in real time, which may cause stress on the user. Therefore, it is conceivable to connect to a serial signal transmission / reception interface, for example, called UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter), which is provided in the portable electronic device. However, although it is good when there is a single device to be added, switching is necessary when there are multiple devices. In Patent Document 4, although communication with a device connected to the outside of the terminal via a serial interface is disclosed, the device to be connected is described with respect to the external device. There is no mention of connection switching of a plurality of devices mounted on the mobile phone itself.

  In particular, when a functional unit such as a user interface, which has more opportunities for signal processing than other functional units, is connected to a single interface unit together with other functional units, the user must perform the switching unless appropriate switching is performed. There will be a chance that the request from can not be processed, in which case the user will feel some stress. Therefore, an object of the present invention made in view of such circumstances is to add a function unit that requires real-time signal transmission / reception together with other function units without greatly changing the basic configuration of the portable electronic device. It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic device and a control method for the portable electronic device that can prevent the user from feeling as much stress as possible in the processing response.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention in a first aspect relays a control unit, a plurality of functional units controlled by the control unit, and signal transmission between the control unit and the plurality of functional units. And the interface unit includes a processing unit executed by the control unit and a device unit controlled by the processing unit, and the interface unit includes the plurality of functions. A communication port for transmitting a signal to a processing unit for each unit, and a connection unit for transmitting a signal to a device unit for each of the plurality of functional units, wherein the control unit is a predetermined one of the plurality of functional units. When activation of a functional unit other than the functional unit is requested, the communication port to the processing unit of the predetermined functional unit of the interface unit is changed to a closed state, and then the processing unit of the other functional unit is transferred to the processing unit. Turn on the communication port When switching to the open state and the termination of the other function unit is requested, the communication port to the other function unit of the interface unit is switched to the closed state, and then the communication port to the predetermined function unit is opened. If any of the plurality of function units is not in use, the connection unit of the interface unit is not connected to any device unit of the plurality of function units, and any of the plurality of function units is not connected. When using these, the connection unit of the interface unit is connected to the device unit of the functional unit using the connection unit.

  In the present invention, the device unit of the predetermined functional unit is connected to the connection unit of the interface unit, and the communication port to the processing unit of the predetermined functional unit is in an open state, When activation of the other functional unit is requested by an operation instruction to the control unit from the device unit of the predetermined functional unit, the control unit communicates with the predetermined functional unit to the interface unit And the other function unit is requested to establish a communication connection.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, the control unit, the plurality of functional units, and the interface unit are provided, and a casing capable of forming a first state and a second state is provided, and the predetermined functional unit includes the casing. An input unit that receives an input when the body is in the second state, and an input unit that does not receive an input when the body is in the first state; a device unit of the predetermined functional unit is connected to a connection unit of the interface unit; and the interface When the casing is switched from the first state to the second state in a state where the communication port to the processing unit of the predetermined function unit of the unit is in the open state, the interface unit is connected to the plurality of function units. It is characterized by switching to a state in which neither is connected.

  In the present invention, the operation unit is a touch sensor that detects a contact by detecting a change in capacitance due to the occurrence of a contact in an energized state, and when transitioning from the closed state to the open state, After the interface unit is switched to a state in which the interface unit is not connected to any of the plurality of functional units, energization to the touch sensor is stopped.

  Furthermore, the present invention according to the second aspect relays signal transmission between a control unit, a plurality of function units that transmit and receive signals between the control unit, and the control unit and the plurality of function units. A control method in a portable electronic device comprising: an interface unit configured to perform a startup of a functional unit other than the predetermined functional unit that is one of the functional units; A transition step for transitioning a predetermined function unit to a communication port closed state that disables communication with the interface unit, and a communication port that enables communication of the other function unit with the interface unit after the transition step Other function unit communication port open step for switching to the open state, and another function unit communication port for switching the other function unit to the communication port closed state when termination of the other function unit is requested After the closing step, the other function unit communication port closing step, the predetermined function unit communication port open step for transitioning the predetermined function unit to the communication port open state, and the interface unit, any of the plurality of function units. If the communication unit is not in use, it is not connected to any of the plurality of function units, and when using any of the plurality of function units, the interface unit is switched to connect to the function unit to be used in the communication port open state. And a step.

  According to the present invention, a functional unit that requires real-time signal transmission / reception can be added together with other functional units without greatly changing the basic configuration of the portable electronic device, and the processing response thereof It is possible to provide a portable electronic device and a method for controlling the portable electronic device that do not cause the user to feel as much stress as possible.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the present invention is applied to a mobile phone terminal as a typical example of the mobile electronic device. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a mobile phone terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mobile phone terminal 100 includes a control unit 110, a sensor unit 120, a display unit 130, a storage unit (flash memory, etc.) 140, an information processing function unit 150, a telephone function unit 160, a key operation unit KEY, a speaker SP, and a CDMA (not shown). A communication unit COM that communicates by connecting to a communication network, an RFID module RFID as a device unit, an infrared communication unit IR, a sensor unit (touch sensor module) 120, and various control signals from these are transmitted to the control unit 110. The serial interface unit S1 is included. Further, the sensor unit 120 includes a sensor element group including a plurality of sensor elements (for example, a contact sensor whose detection unit is provided on the outer surface of the device housing and detects contact / proximity of an object such as a finger). The storage unit 140 includes a storage area 142 and an external data storage area 144. The storage section 140 includes n, i.e., a first sensor element group G1, a second sensor element group G2, and an nth sensor element group G3. It is configured. The control unit 110 and the information processing function unit 150 are preferably configured by a calculation unit such as a CPU and a software module. In addition to the camera 220 and the light 230, a microphone MIC, a radio module RM, a power supply PS, a power supply controller PSCON, and the like are connected to the control unit 110, but are omitted here for the sake of simplicity.

  The control unit 110 detects contact of an object with a user's finger or the like by the sensor unit 120, stores the detected information in the storage area 142 of the storage unit 140, and controls processing of the information stored by the information processing function unit 150. . Then, information corresponding to the processing result is displayed on the display unit 130. Further, the control unit 110 controls the telephone function unit 160, the key operation unit KEY, and the speaker SP for a normal call function. The display unit 130 includes a sub display unit ELD and a main display unit (not shown) (a display unit provided at a position where the mobile phone terminal 100 is hidden in the closed state and exposed in the open state).

  FIG. 2 shows an appearance of the mobile phone terminal according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 (a) is an overall perspective view, and FIG. 2 (b) is a diagram for explaining the operation of the sensor unit 120. It is the perspective view which omitted the panel PNL and displayed arrangement | positioning only of a sensor element and sub display part ELD periphery. The cellular phone terminal 100 includes a sensor unit 120 (in view of appearance, a panel PNL described later with reference to FIG. 6 covering the sensor unit 120, that is, the sensor element groups G1 and G2), a camera 220, and a light 230. In addition to the closed state as shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone terminal 100 can form an open state by rotating and sliding the hinge, and the sensor unit 120 can be operated even in the closed state. Is provided. The sensor elements L1 to L4 and R1 to R4 are each composed of a capacitance type contact sensor, and are arranged in a ring along the periphery of the sub display unit ELD made of an organic EL display.

  Here, the sensor elements L1 to L4 constitute a first sensor element group G1, and the sensor elements R1 to R4 constitute a second sensor element group G2. That is, in the present embodiment, the sensor unit 120 is configured by the first sensor element group G1 and the second sensor element group G2. The first sensor element group G1 and the second sensor element group G2 are arranged in a line-symmetric layout with the sub display portion ELD sandwiched therebetween and the direction in which the selection candidate items are arranged as a center line. They are arranged side by side. The sub display unit ELD is not limited to an organic EL display, and for example, a liquid crystal display can be used. The sensor elements L1 to L4 and R1 to R4 are not limited to electrostatic capacitance type contact sensors, and thin film resistance type contact sensors can also be used.

  In FIG. 2, the sub display unit ELD displays information according to the application being executed on the mobile phone terminal 100. For example, while a music player application is being executed, the sub-display unit ELD displays a song that can be played. A combination of a song name and an artist name is one item, that is, a “selection candidate item”. The user operates the sensor unit 120 as the operation input unit to change the capacitances of the sensor elements R1 to R4 and L1 to L4 to move the items displayed on the sub display unit ELD and the operation target area to change Make a selection. At this time, if the sensor unit 120 has a configuration in which the sensor elements are arranged around the sub display unit ELD as shown in FIG. 2, it is not necessary to occupy a large mounting portion in the external casing of the small portable electronic device. In addition, the user can operate the sensor element while viewing the display on the sub display unit ELD. The operation by the sensor unit 120 is accepted only in the closed state (second state). That is, an operation is performed by touching the sensor unit 120 while confirming the display in a state where the display of the sub display unit ELD is exposed while the housing of the mobile phone terminal 100 is closed. In the open state (first state), an operation by the sensor unit 120 is not accepted, and the upper and lower casings are provided on a surface concealed and opposed in the casing closed state in FIG. The key operation unit KEY is operated by the main operation unit.

  FIG. 3 is a detailed functional block diagram of the mobile phone terminal 100 according to the present embodiment. Needless to say, the various types of software shown in FIG. 3 operate based on a program stored in the storage unit 140, and when the control unit 110 executes a work area on the storage unit 140. As shown in the figure, various functions of the mobile phone terminal 100 are divided into software blocks and hardware blocks. The software block includes a base application BA having a flag storage unit FLG, a sub display unit display application AP1, a lock security application AP2, other applications AP3, and a radio application AP4. The software block further includes an infrared communication application APIR and an RFID application APRF. When these various applications control various hardware (device unit) of the hardware block, the infrared communication driver IRD, RFID driver RFD, audio driver AUD, radio driver RD, and protocol PR are used as drivers (processing units). To do. For example, the audio driver AUD, the radio driver RD, and the protocol PR control the microphone MIC, the speaker SP, the communication unit COM, and the radio module RM, respectively. The software block further includes a key scan port driver KSP that monitors and detects the operation state of the hardware. Touch sensor driver-related detection, key detection, folding state, slide type, and other cases of the cellular phone terminal 100 are opened. / Open / close detection to detect the closed state, earphone attachment / detachment detection, etc.

  The hardware block includes a key operation unit KEY including dial keys and various buttons including tact switches SW1 to SW4, which will be described later, an open / close detection device OCD that detects open / close based on the operating state of the hinge unit, and a microphone MIC attached to the device body. , Detachable earphone EAP, speaker SP, communication unit COM, radio module RM, serial interface unit SI, and switching control unit SWCON. The switch control unit SWCON is a touch sensor that configures the infrared communication unit IR, RFID module (radio identification tag) RFID, first sensor element group G1, and second sensor element group G2 in accordance with instructions from the corresponding block of the software block. Select any one of the modules TSM (a module of a set of parts necessary for driving the sensor unit 120 and the sensor unit 120 such as an oscillation circuit) and pick up the signal by the serial interface unit SI The hardware to be selected (IR, RFID, TSM) is switched. Details will be described later. The power supply PS supplies power to selection target hardware (IR, RFID, TSM) as a device unit via the power supply controller PSCON.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a more detailed configuration of the touch sensor function of the mobile phone terminal 100 according to the present embodiment. The mobile phone terminal 100 includes a touch sensor driver block TDB, a touch sensor base application block TSBA, a device layer DL, an interrupt handler IH, a queue QUE, an OS timer CLK, and various applications AP1 to AP3. Here, the touch sensor base application block TSBA includes a base application BA and a touch sensor driver upper application interface API, and the touch sensor driver block TDB includes a touch sensor driver TSD and a result notification unit NTF. The device layer DL includes a serial interface unit SI, a switching unit SW that switches connection destinations of UART lines that transmit and receive electrical signals between the device units connected to the serial interface unit SI, and a switching control unit SWCON that performs switching control thereof. Infrared communication unit IR, RFID (RFID module) and touch sensor module TSM are provided, and interrupt handler IH includes serial interrupt monitoring unit SIMON and confirmation unit CNF. In FIG. 4, the communication ports from the serial interface unit SI to the infrared communication unit driver IRD and the RFID driver RFD are omitted for simplification of the drawing.

  Next, the function of each block will be described. In the touch sensor base application block TSBA, whether or not to activate the touch sensor module TSM is exchanged between the base application BA and the touch sensor driver upper application interface API. The base application BA includes a sub display unit display application AP1 that is an application for the sub display unit, a lock security application AP2 that is an application that locks the mobile phone terminal 100 for security protection of the charging service using RFID, and other applications. When the base application BA is requested to activate the touch sensor from the respective applications, it requests the touch sensor driver upper application interface API to activate the touch sensor module TSM. For example, the mobile phone terminal 100 is activated when the housing transitions from the open state to the closed state, and the sub-display unit display application AP1 is configured to request further activation of the touch sensor module TSM when activated. The sub display unit is a sub display unit ELD shown in each drawing, and in the mobile phone terminal 100 according to the present embodiment, the sub display unit provided in the central region of the sensor element group arranged in a ring shape. Refers to ELD.

  In response to the activation request, the touch sensor driver upper application interface API checks whether or not the touch sensor module TSM can be activated in a block (not shown) that manages the activation of the application in the base application BA. That is, it is set that the touch sensor module TSM cannot be activated in advance, such as lighting of the sub display unit ELD indicating that the application selection is being performed, or FM radio, other applications attached to the mobile phone terminal 100, or the like. Check for the presence of a flag indicating that the application has started. As a result, when it is determined that the touch sensor module TSM can be activated, the touch sensor driver upper application interface API requests the touch sensor driver TSD to activate the touch sensor module TSM. In other words, power supply from the power source PS to the touch sensor module TSM is started via the power controller PSCON.

  When the activation is requested, the touch sensor driver TSD requests the serial interface unit SI in the device layer DL to control to open a communication port for signal transmission / reception with respect to the touch sensor driver TSD of the serial interface unit SI. The touch sensor driver TSD touches the UART line of the serial interface unit SI since the use of the touch sensor is required here after the communication port for the touch sensor TSD (including the output port for the interrupt handler IH) is opened. The switching control unit SWCON is requested to switch to the sensor module TSM side, and switching is performed by the switching unit SW.

  Thereafter, the touch sensor driver TSD outputs a signal having information on the sensing result of the touch sensor module TSM (hereinafter referred to as a contact signal) to the serial interface unit SI at a cycle of 20 ms based on the internal clock of the touch sensor module TSM. To be controlled.

  The contact signal is output as an 8-bit signal corresponding to each of the eight sensor elements L1 to L4 and R1 to R4 described above. That is, when each sensor element detects contact, a signal corresponding to the sensor element that has detected contact is set with “flag: 1” indicating contact detection, and the contact signal is formed by these bit strings. Is done. That is, the contact signal includes information indicating “which sensor element” is “one of contact / non-contact”.

  The serial interrupt monitoring unit SIMON in the interrupt handler IH takes out the contact signal output to the serial interface unit SI. Here, the confirmation unit CNF confirms the True / False of the extracted contact signal in accordance with the conditions set in advance in the serial interface unit SI, and puts only True signal data into the queue QUE (signal True). The type of / False will be described later.) The serial interrupt monitoring unit SIMON also monitors other interrupt events of the serial interface unit SI during activation of the touch sensor module TSM, such as occurrence of a tact switch to be described later in the touch sensor module TSM.

  When the detected contact is the first contact, the monitoring unit SIMON puts a signal indicating “press” into the queue QUE (queuing) before the contact signal. Thereafter, the contact signal is updated at a cycle of 45 ms by a clock by the OS timer CLK included in the operation system, and a signal indicating “release” is put in the queue QUE when the contact is not detected for a predetermined cycle. This makes it possible to monitor the movement of contact detection between the sensor elements from the start of contact to release. Note that “first contact” refers to an event in which a signal having “flag: 1” is generated when there is no data in the queue QUE or when the latest input data is “release”. By these processes, the touch sensor driver TSD can know the detection state of the sensor element in the section from “press” to “release”.

  At the same time, when the contact signal output from the touch sensor module TSM is a signal that satisfies the condition of “False”, the monitoring unit SIMON generates a signal meaning “release” in a pseudo manner and puts it in the queue QUE. Here, the conditions to be False (false) are “when contact is detected by two discontinuous sensor elements”, “when an interrupt occurs during activation of the touch sensor module TSM (for example, notification of incoming mail, etc.) "When the lighting / extinguishing state of the sub display unit ELD is changed)" or "When a key is pressed while the touch sensor module TSM is activated" is set.

  In addition, for example, when the monitoring unit SIMON detects contact with two adjacent sensor elements such as the sensor elements R2 and R3 at the same time, the monitoring unit SIMON corresponds to the element that detects the contact as in the case of detecting a single element. The contact signal flagged in the bit to be put is put in the queue QUE.

  The touch sensor driver TSD reads a contact signal from the queue QUE at a period of 45 ms, and determines an element that has detected contact based on the read contact signal. The touch sensor driver TSD considers the change in contact determined by the contact signal sequentially read from the queue QUE and the positional relationship with the detected element, and “contact start element”, “contact moving direction (right / Counterclockwise) "and" movement distance from press to release ". The touch sensor driver TSD writes the determined result in the result notification unit NTF and notifies the base application BA to update the result.

  In the present embodiment, there are a “half-circumference detection mode” and a “circumference detection mode” as modes for determining the moving direction and moving distance of a contact based on a contact signal. The “intra-circle detection mode” and the “circumference detection mode” are selectively applied according to the application being executed, and details thereof will be described later.

  As described above, when the update of the result is notified to the base application BA by the touch sensor driver TSD, the base application BA confirms the result notification unit NTF, and further improves the content of the information notified to the result notification unit NTF. Applications that require the touch operation result of the touch sensor module TSM (such as the sub display unit display application AP1 for displaying the menu screen in the sub display unit and the lock security application AP2 for lock control).

  FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the arrangement of components of sensor unit 120 and sub display unit ELD, in particular, of cellular phone terminal 100 according to the present embodiment. For convenience of drawing and explanation, only some components are shown and described. As shown in the drawing, an annular panel PNL is arranged along the periphery of the sub display unit ELD made of organic EL elements. The panel PNL is preferably thin enough so as not to affect the sensitivity of the sensor element provided in the lower part. Under the panel PNL, eight capacitive elements L1 to L4 and R1 to R4 that can detect the contact / proximity of a human finger are arranged in a substantially annular shape. The four sensor elements L1 to L4 on the left side constitute the first sensor element group G1, and the four sensor elements R1 to R4 on the right side constitute the second sensor element group G2. A clearance (gap) is provided between adjacent sensor elements in each sensor element group so that adjacent sensor elements do not interfere with the contact detection function. Note that this clearance is not necessary when using a sensor element that does not interfere.

  Between the sensor element L4 located at one end of the first sensor element group G1 and the sensor element R1 located at one end of the second sensor element group G2, the clearance between adjacent sensor elements in the same sensor element group A separation portion SP1 having a larger clearance (for example, twice or more length) is provided. Similarly to the separation portion SP1, the separation portion SP2 is provided between the sensor element L1 located at the other end of the first sensor element group G1 and the sensor element R4 located at the other end of the second sensor element group G2. Provide. Such separation portions SP1 and SP2 can prevent fingers from interfering with each other when the first sensor element group G1 and the second sensor element group G2 function separately.

  The center of the tact switch SW1 is arranged at the center of the first sensor element group G1, that is, the lower part between the sensor elements L2 and L3, and the center of the second sensor element group G2, that is, the sensor. Similarly, the center of the tact switch SW2 is arranged at the lower part between the elements R2 and R3 (see FIG. 6). The tact switch SW3 is also provided between the first sensor element group G1 and the second sensor element group G2, that is, between the sensor element L4 and the sensor element R1 and between the sensor element R4 and the sensor element L1. And SW4 are provided.

  In this way, the tactile switches SW1 and SW2 are arranged at the approximate center of the arrangement direction of the sensor element group, which is a position not associated with the directionality, so that the movement instruction operation with the finger direction by the user on the sensor element is performed. The user can easily grasp that the switch performs an operation that is not directly related to the direction instruction. That is, if the tact switch is arranged at the end (for example, L1 or L4) instead of the center of the arrangement direction of the sensor element group, the movement operation by the sensor element is continued to remind the directionality toward the end side. It is easy to give the user a misunderstanding that it is a “switch” that is pressed for a long time. On the other hand, if the tact switch is arranged in the center of the arrangement direction of the sensor element group as in the present embodiment, such a misunderstanding can be prevented and a more comfortable user interface can be provided. Is possible. In addition, since the tact switch is placed under the sensor element and is not exposed to the outside of the device, the number of operation parts that are exposed on the external appearance of the device can be reduced, and a smart impression that does not require complicated operation and Become. In addition, when providing a switch in places other than the panel PNL lower part, it is necessary to provide a through-hole separately in an apparatus housing | casing, However, A housing | casing intensity | strength fall may arise depending on the position which provides a through-hole. In this configuration, by disposing the tact switch below the panel PNL and the sensor element, it is not necessary to provide a new through-hole, and the housing strength can be prevented from being lowered.

  For example, during execution of the sub display unit display application AP1 that displays the menu screen on the sub display unit ELD, the user sequentially traces the sensor elements L1, L2, L3, and L4 in an arc shape upward with, for example, a finger. And items displayed as selection target areas (inverted display, highlighted in another color, etc.) among the selection candidate items (in this case, sound, display, data, camera) displayed on the display unit ELD Sequentially changes to the upper one, or the selection candidate item scrolls upward. When a desired selection candidate item is displayed as a selection target area, the user presses the tact switch SW1 through the panel PNL and the sensor elements L2 and L3 to make a selection decision, or presses the tact switch SW2. The display itself can be changed to another screen.

  Further, by arranging the tact switches SW3 and SW4, which are electronic components other than the sensor elements, between the first sensor element group G1 and the second sensor element group G2, the space can be effectively used, and the entire device This can contribute to the downsizing. Here, the tact switch SW3 can be used as, for example, a switch for executing the sub display unit display application AP1 or a switch for moving the selection target area displayed on the sub display unit ELD upward. It can be used as a switch for moving the selection target area displayed on the cancel key or the sub display unit ELD downward by one.

  The panel PNL is flexible enough to depress the tact switches SW1 to SW4, or is attached to the device housing so as to be slightly tiltable, and also serves as a pusher for the tact switches SW1 to SW4. Yes.

  FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the cellular phone terminal 100 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, particularly the sensor unit 120. As shown in the drawing, the panel PNL and the sub display unit ELD are arranged on the first layer forming the outer surface of the terminal housing. Sensor elements L1 to L4 and R1 to R4 are arranged on the second layer located below the panel PNL of the first layer. The third layer located below the sensor elements L2 and L3 of the second layer, below the sensor elements R2 and R3, below the sensor elements L4 and R1, and below the sensor elements R4 and L1 , Tact switches SW1, SW2, SW3 and SW4 are respectively arranged.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram for explaining processing of contact detection data from each sensor element. For simplicity of explanation, only the sensor elements R1 to R4 are shown, but the same applies to the sensor elements L1 to L4. A high frequency is applied to each of the sensor elements R <b> 1 to R <b> 4, and calibration is performed in consideration of a change in a certain stray capacitance, and the high frequency state at this time is set as a reference. (R1 pre-processing unit 300a, R2 pre-processing unit 300b, R3 pre-processing unit 300c, R4 pre-processing unit 300d) detects a change in a high-frequency state based on a change in capacitance due to finger contact or the like Then, it is transmitted to the A / D converter 310 (A / D converter 310a for R1, A / D converter 310b for R2, A / D converter 310c for R3, A / D converter 310d for R4), It is converted into a digital signal indicating contact detection. The digitized signal is transmitted to the control unit 320, and an 8-bit contact signal is obtained together with the signals of the other sensor elements L1 to L4, and the 8-bit contact signal is converted into, for example, hexadecimal and stored. Stored in the unit 330. Thereafter, this signal is sent to the serial interface unit and the interrupt handler. The interrupt handler converts the signal into a signal that can be read by the touch sensor driver, and puts the converted signal in a queue. Note that the control unit 320 detects a direction when contact is detected by two or more adjacent sensor elements based on information stored in the storage unit 330. In addition, such a means for sending and receiving on software for supplying a signal from the touch sensor module TSM (device unit) to the touch sensor driver TSD (processing unit) as a software signal from the serial interface unit SI. Is referred to as a communication port, and setting a protocol between transmission and reception in a communication port to make it possible to send and receive signals to each other is referred to as an open state of the communication port, and conversely a state in which signals cannot be transmitted and received from each other is referred to as a closed state.

  Next, “intra-circle detection mode” and “circumference detection mode” by the cellular phone terminal 100 of the present embodiment will be described.

  First, the “half-round detection mode” will be described. In the “half-circle detection mode”, for example, in order to select an item displayed on the sub display unit ELD during execution of the music player application or the sub display unit display application AP1, the touch operation in the sensor unit 120 is performed. The moving direction and the moving distance are detected.

  FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are diagrams for explaining an example of the “half-round detection mode”, and are diagrams illustrating the operation of the sub display unit when the user traces on the sensor element. 8 and 9, (a) is a schematic diagram showing only a sub display unit mounted on a mobile phone terminal and sensor elements arranged side by side along the periphery thereof, and (b). FIG. 7A is a diagram showing sensor elements detected with time, and FIG. 8C is a diagram showing a change in position of the operation target area of the sub-display unit ELD according to the detected sensor elements. In (a) of these drawings, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. In the display of the sub display unit ELD in (c), TI indicates the title of the item list displayed by the sub display unit, and LS1 to LS4 indicate selection candidate items (for example, several scrollable lines). Also, in the sub-display part of (c), the item in the state to be operated is placed on the item so that it can be identified as the current operation target region, or the item itself is highlighted. Highlight with In these figures, the items displayed as the operation target area are hatched and highlighted. For convenience of explanation, “moving target” will be described using only the operation target region, but the sub-display unit operates on the same principle when moving (scrolling) the item itself.

  In FIG. 8A, when the sensor elements are continuously traced from the top to the bottom indicated by the arrow AR1 using contact means such as a finger, the control unit makes contact with the time transition shown in FIG. 8B. Is detected. In this case, contact is detected in the order of the sensor elements R1, R2, R3, and R4. Since the continuous contact from R1 to R4 is detected by two or more of the adjacent sensor elements, the direction is detected, and the operation target region is determined according to the number of times the adjacent sensor elements are transitioned and the direction. Moves on the list displayed on the sub display ELD. In this case, as shown in (c), the operation target area moves downward by three items from the initial position item LS1 to the item LS4. Although the operation target area is represented by hatching, an area with a narrow hatching pitch is an initial position, and an area with a wide hatching pitch is a position after movement. As described above, according to this configuration, the “operation target area moves downward” on the sub display unit, as in the case of the user's “downward finger pointing operation”, the user can operate with his / her finger. It feels as if the target area is freely moved. That is, the operation feeling as intended by the user can be obtained.

  Similarly, if the sensor element is traced in the direction indicated by the arrow AR2 in FIG. 6A, the sensor elements L4, L3, L2, and L1 contact each other in this order as shown in FIG. In this case, because of the contact that makes three adjacent sensor elements transition from top to bottom in the same manner as the arrow AR1, there are three operation target areas from the item LS1 to the item LS4 in the downward direction as shown in (c). Move minutes.

  If the sensor elements are traced from the bottom to the top (counterclockwise direction) indicated by the arrow AR1 in FIG. 9A, the sensor elements R4, R3, R2 among the sensor elements as shown in FIG. 9B. , R1 detects contact in this order, and in this case, because of contact that makes three adjacent sensor elements transition from bottom to top, the operation target area from item LS4 to item LS1 upward as shown in (c) Moves by three.

  Similarly, if the sensor elements are traced from the bottom to the top (clockwise direction) indicated by the arrow AR2 in FIG. 6A, the sensor elements L1 and L2 among the sensor elements as shown in FIG. , L3, and L4 detect contact in this order. In this case, from the bottom of the item LS4 as shown in (c), the contact moves from bottom to top as in the case of the arrow AR1. Three operation target areas move to the item LS1.

  As described above, in the “intra-circle detection mode”, in each sensor element group, contact with a certain sensor element (for example, R2) is not detected as movement, but the sensor element (for example, for example, adjacent to the sensor element) Only when the contact transitions to R3) is detected as a movement of one element (one item in the sub display portion ELD) in that direction. Therefore, a contact transition between two adjacent sensor elements straddling the separation portion SP1 or SP2, that is, a contact transition between L4-R1 and a contact transition between L1-R4 is determined to be invalid and is not detected as movement.

  In addition, even in the contact transition across the separation part SP1 or SP2, if there is a transition between adjacent sensor elements in the same sensor element group, the contact transition in the sensor element group is determined to be valid, and the contact transition direction is changed to the contact transition direction. Detected as movement. Therefore, for example, when the contact transitions from R3 → R4 → L1, it is determined that the transition from R3 → R4 is valid and the transition from R4 → L1 is invalid, and the operation target area is one item downward in the sub display unit ELD. Will move for minutes. Further, when the contact transitions clockwise from R1 to L4, it is determined that the transition from R1 to R4 is valid, the transition from R4 to L1 is invalid, and the transition from L1 to L4 is valid, and the sub display unit In the ELD, the operation target area moves downward by three items, then moves upward by three items, and returns to the original position.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining another example of the “half-circle detection mode”. The sensor element detection state is not only a single element detection state, but also a multiple element detection state in which two adjacent elements are further detected. It is the conceptual diagram shown divided into 16 so that it might determine. Although it is almost the same as the configuration of FIG. 5, here, a configuration in which a tact switch is also provided between the first sensor element group G1 and the second sensor element group G2, that is, the sensor element L4 and the sensor. A description will be given of a configuration in which a tact switch SW3 is provided between the element R1 and a tact switch SW4 is provided between the sensor element R4 and the sensor element L1.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 110 detects, in addition to R1 detection, R2 detection, R3 detection, R4 detection, L1 detection, L2 detection, L3 detection, and L4 detection, where only a single sensor element detects contact. R1-R2 detection, R2-R3 detection, R3-R4 detection, L1-R4 detection, L1-L2 detection, L2-L3 detection, L3-L4 detection, L4-R1 detection to detect contact between two adjacent sensor elements A total of 16 detection states can be managed. That is, in this “intra-circle detection mode”, a single element detection state in which an operation state is detected for only one sensor element, and an adjacent element detection state in which an operation state of two adjacent sensor elements is detected Can be detected, and the number of sensor element detection states is 16 so that more precise control is possible.

  If the detection states of the eight sensor elements are managed one by one, the eight detection states can be managed. However, in the eight detection states, since the number of states, that is, state changes are small, it is not possible to perform very precise control. In portable electronic devices that require portability, the size of the sensor element itself is also small, so that it may contact the sensor element across the sensor elements. In this case, for example, the sensor elements L2 and L3 are contacted in this order. Is detected, an upward movement instruction is generated, which may cause an operation unintended by the user. In order to appropriately process such contact detection to the sensor element, it is necessary to hold the confirmation of the movement instruction until two or three detection state changes (movements) are detected in the 16 detection states. . Hereinafter, the process of holding the confirmation of the movement instruction will be described in detail with reference to a flowchart.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the movement confirmation process (that is, the hold process) in the 16 detection states, and this flowchart every time it is detected that any one detection state occurs in the queue QUE. Processing is performed by the touch sensor driver TSD. The first detected position (any one of 16 detected states) from the released state is set as the first reference point. From this reference point, the current detection position (detection state newly entered in the queue QUE), and the previous detection position (previous detection state remaining in the queue QUE), the movement distance (detection state) Transition). As shown in the figure, in step S10, it is determined whether or not the previous position has been released. If it is determined that it has been released (the previous data remaining in the queue QUE is “release”), the process proceeds to step S12, and whether or not the current detection position has been released (ie, newly entered) Whether or not the data is “release”). If it is determined that the current detection position has been released, the process ends. If not, the process proceeds to step S14, where the reference point and the previous detection position are set as the current detection position.

  If it is determined in step S10 that the previous position has not been released (that is, if another detection has occurred and the current detection follows), the process proceeds to step S16, where the current detection position is It is determined whether or not it has been released (that is, whether or not the newly input signal is “release”). If it is determined that the current detection position is released, the reference point and the previous detection position are initialized (cleared), and the process ends (step S18). If it is determined in step S16 that the current detection position is not released, the distance between the previous detection position and the current detection position is calculated (step S20), and is the calculated distance 1 or 2? It is determined whether or not (step S22). If it is determined that the calculated distance is not 1 or 2, the sensor element is skipped and it is determined that the detection state is discontinuous (step S24), the reference point is set to the current detection position, and the process proceeds to step S36. move on. If it is determined that the distance calculated in step S22 is 1 or 2, the distance between the current detection position and the reference point is calculated (step S28). In the calculation of the distance, the detection position for each sensor element is known by the signal put in the queue QUE. Therefore, any of the 16 detection states can be determined between the previous detection position and the current detection position. The touch sensor driver TSD determines whether there is a difference corresponding to the number.

  Further, it is determined whether or not the distance calculated in step S28 is 2 or 3 (step S30). If the condition is not satisfied (that is, 4 or more), the process proceeds to step S36 as an error, and the condition is satisfied ( If the distance is 2 or 3, the movement is confirmed (step S32). That is, the first touched position is set as the “reference point”, and then the “previous position” is updated when contact is continuously detected without being “released”, and finally the latest detected position “ Only when it is determined that “current position” is “moved 2 or 3” with respect to the reference point, it is determined that “there is movement”. Further, since the single element detection state and the multiple element detection state are continuously detected, it is determined that the movement is “2”. Therefore, on the sensor element, the sensor element is not used until the above “2 movement”. One finger is moved. The next reference point is set to a position that is moved by two in the movement direction from the previous reference point (step S34), and the process proceeds to step S36. In step S36, “previous detection position” is set to “current detection position” for the next process, and the process ends.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a determination process when the process of the flowchart of FIG. 11 is applied to the contact from the sensor elements L1 to L4 of FIG. As shown in the figure, the detection state changes are “L1 detection”, “L1-L2 detection”, “L2 detection”, “L2-L3 detection”, “L3 detection”, “L3-L4 detection”, “L4 detection”. " That is, the single element detection state and the multiple element detection state are repeatedly detected from L1 to L4. First, the first “L1 detection” is set to the reference point BP1 (S14). Next, when “L1-L2 detection” occurs, since the previous position is not “release” but “L1 detection”, the previous position is compared with the current position detected this time (S22). Here, the movement is one frame from L1 to L1-L2, which is valid because it satisfies the determination condition of “1 or 2?”. Next, the reference point is compared with the current position (S30). Here, since both the reference point and the previous position are set to the same L1, the movement amount is still one frame, and the movement is not confirmed at this stage, and the L1-L2 detection state of the current position is set to the previous position PP1. (S36).

  Furthermore, if “L2 detection” occurs without “release” occurring midway, the previous position is “L1-L2 detection”, so the previous position is compared with the current position CP1 detected this time (S22). . Here, the movement is one frame from L1-L2 to L2, which is valid because the determination condition “1 or 2” is satisfied. Next, the reference point is compared with the current position (S30). Since the reference point is set to the same L1 as in the L1 detection again this time, the positional relationship with L2 is two frames, so the movement amount is determined to be two frames. Here, the movement is confirmed for the first time (S32). Then, for the next determination, the reference point BP2 is set to a point where two frames are shifted in the movement direction from “L1 detection”, that is, “L2 detection” (S34), and the previous position is set to the current position “L2 detection”. Is again set, and the confirmation process 1 is completed (S36).

  As described above, the touch sensor driver TSD determines the movement “1” by detecting the transition of the detection state of two frames. That is, when the movement is confirmed in step S32, the movement direction component (clockwise direction from L1 to L4) and the movement of “1” and the movement of “1” are stored in the result notification unit NTF, and the stored contents of the base application BA are stored. The update is notified, and the base application BA extracts the update contents and notifies the sub display unit display application AP1 and the like. If the sub display unit display application AP1 is in use, a movement amount of “1” is given to the “direction from bottom to top” based on the movement direction component. The display of the part ELD is changed. Specifically, when the list display as shown in FIG. 8C is performed and the operation target area is located at LS4, the operation target area moves to LS3 based on the confirmation process 1. . By the way, in the same manner as in the determination process 1, the detection state continues for “R4 detection” and “R3 detection” for the second sensor element groups R1 to R4 continuously from the “R4 detection” state. Even when the transition is made, the touch sensor driver TSD gives the sub-display unit display application AP1 via the base application the “direction from bottom to top” and “1” movement amount assignment information based on the movement direction component. Thus, on the screen display of the list display, the operation target area changes from the item LS4 to LS3 in the same manner as the operation in the first sensor element group.

  Next, a case where the finger movement continues without “release” subsequent to the confirmation process 1 will be described. As in the case of the confirmation process 1, as shown in the confirmation process 2 in the figure, the detection state advances two frames from the reference point BP2, “L2-L3 detection” is set to the previous position PP2, and “L3 detection” is currently Since the distance between the reference point BP2 and the current position CP2 is two frames when the position CP2 is reached, the movement “1” is further determined. That is, the movement of the total “2” is confirmed by both the confirmation process 2 subsequent to the confirmation process 1. Then, for further subsequent processing, the reference point is changed with “L3 detection” two frames ahead from the reference point BP2 “L2 detection” as a new reference point BP3.

  Similarly, as shown in the confirmation process 3 in the figure, the detection state advances two frames from the reference point BP3, “L3-L4 detection” becomes the previous position CP3, and “L4 detection” becomes the current position CP3. Since the distance becomes two frames at that time, “1” movement is further confirmed, and a total of “3” movements are confirmed together with the confirmation process 1 and the confirmation process 2. In this way, a total of “3” moves are notified to the application.

  As the display on the sub display part ELD, the sub display part display application AP1 is notified of the movement confirmation of “1” twice in the “direction from bottom to top” following the confirmation process 1. The operation target area changes from LS3 to LS1 that has moved "2" upward. Here, not only the detection of a single element detection state but also a detection state of a plurality of elements is detected and the detection state is subdivided, but the movement amount determined by the movement of two state transitions is “ As a result, in the case of a sensor element composed of four sensor elements as in the example, the movement confirmation of a maximum of “3” is finally performed. In other words, in the case where the number of sensor elements is four and the movement is confirmed only by single element detection, the final amount of movement is very approximate, but only the single element is accurately positioned. Even if it is not touched, the maximum amount of movement of “3” can be secured, and inaccurate operation by the user can be handled in a form that meets the user's wishes without causing any reaction.

  In addition, when the user carrying the mobile phone performs an operation in a place where vibration is likely to occur, a case where the finger is released from the sensor unit 120 for a moment while the finger is moving due to external vibration may be considered. In such a case, if a rough detection method that detects only movement by detecting only the number of sensor elements is used to detect movement, detection omissions are unlikely to occur, but not only single element detection but also multiple element detection In the case of a precise detection method that also detects the state, it may be considered that even if the finger is momentarily released, the finger continues to rotate, so that one detection state is skipped. However, in step S22, “whether the distance between the previous position and the current position is 1 or 2” indicates that the continuous movement detection state is established even when two movements are made from the previous position, that is, even if one is skipped from the previous position. Since it can be handled, it can be as close as possible to the operation desired by the user even under vibration.

  In addition, since not only the distance 2 frames but also the 3 frames are valid in step S30, the movement also occurs when the finger is momentarily detached due to vibration or when the detection state is detected by a quick operation. An operation can be detected. In addition, when detecting the amount of movement for three frames, not only is the amount of movement “1” fixed as in the case of the next two frames, but the setting of the reference point for the next detection is the same as when moving two frames. Since only two frames are moved relative to the previous reference point, even when movement is confirmed by detecting three frames, an amount of movement confirmation of “n−1” obtained by subtracting 1 from the number n of sensor elements is secured. This makes it possible for the user to obtain a stable operational feeling of the same operational feeling regardless of how they are touched.

  As described above, the single element detection state in which the operation state is detected for only one of the plurality of sensor elements and the operation state of two adjacent sensor elements among the plurality of sensor elements are detected. By detecting the adjacent element detection state, and determining the movement by the combination of the single element detection state and the adjacent element detection state, it is possible to obtain the operation feeling as intended by the user and to modify the device. And more precise movement detection. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent malfunction caused by touching two different points at the same time, and to prevent false detection due to the effect of noise or the like.

  In addition, in the case where five or more selection items are displayed on the screen and detection is performed with only four elements, in order to select the lowest level of the selection item, several times are required. You must trace your finger from the upper element to the lower element, but in this “in-half-circle detection mode”, for example, two elements can be moved up to two frames to reduce the number of times of tracing. Can do. That is, it can also be diverted to providing various types of movement parameters with a small number of sensor elements.

  Next, the “circulation detection mode” will be described. In the “circulation detection mode”, for example, when the security lock is released during the execution of the lock security application AP2 described above, the number of contact operations in the sensor unit 120 and the rotation direction are detected.

  FIG. 13 shows an example of setting conditions for releasing the communication function lock by the lock security application AP2. Here, a screen for setting conditions for releasing the communication function lock is displayed on main display unit 350 provided at a position where mobile phone terminal 100 is exposed in the open state, and key operation unit KEY is operated according to the display screen. To set the release condition. For this reason, first, the menu key of the key operation unit KEY is pressed to display the menu screen on the main display unit 350 as shown in FIG. 13A, and the corresponding display item, here “ By selecting “4” and pressing the enter key, an operation item for releasing the communication function lock as shown in FIG. 13B, for example, is displayed. Here, since the communication function lock is released by the operation of the sensor unit 120, that is, the touch sensor, “1” is selected from the display screen of FIG. 13B and the enter key is pressed.

  Thereafter, by operating the up / down key and the enter key of the key operation unit KEY, continuous forward / reverse rotations such as clockwise (clockwise) and counterclockwise (counterclockwise) as shown in FIGS. 13 (c) and 13 (d) are performed. The circulation pattern to be included is appropriately selected, and a release condition that is a combination of the circulation patterns to be used for communication function lock release as shown in FIG. 13E is created. When a desired release condition is created, the determination key is pressed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13 (f), the message “set” is displayed on the main display unit 350, and the communication function lock release condition setting operation is terminated. Here, as shown in FIG. 13E, the release condition is set such that one clockwise rotation → one counterclockwise rotation → one counterclockwise rotation is set.

  Although FIG. 13 shows a case where the communication function lock release condition is set using the main display unit 350 and the key operation unit KEY, the same setting operation is performed using the sub display unit ELD and the sensor unit 120. It can also be performed by the “half-circle detection mode”.

  FIG. 14 illustrates an example of one round detection in the “round detection mode”. Like FIG. 10, the sensor element detection state is divided into 16 elements including a single element detection state and a multiple element detection state. It is the conceptual diagram shown. In this embodiment, the sensor elements L1 to L4 and R1 to R4 arranged in a ring shape are regarded as one sensor element group, and the position of one sensor element that detects contact in the sensor element group is set as a start position. The position of the sensor element that detects the next contact from which the turning direction is detected from the start position is used as a reference point, and a plurality of sensor elements sequentially contact each other from the reference point to the start position in the turning direction. Detecting the detection, one round of the rotation direction is detected.

  For example, in FIG. 14, when the press position where the finger is first touched from the released state is the L1 detection position, L1 is set as the start position (base point) in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions, and the start position When the L1-L2 position including the contact detection by the sensor element L2 is detected next, the L1-R4 detection position including the contact detection by the sensor element L1 clockwise from the reference point with the sensor element L2 as a reference point. If contact is detected successively in order, it is detected as a clockwise round. When the L1-R4 position including the contact detection by the sensor element R4 is detected next from the start position, the contact detection by the sensor element L1 is included counterclockwise from the reference point with the sensor element R4 as the reference point. If contact is detected in sequence up to the L1-L2 detection position, it is detected as a counterclockwise round. The touch sensor driver TSD determines the moving direction from the difference between the start position and the reference point that is the next detected sensor element position, and holds it together with the start position, thereby detecting the subsequent movement. Are in the same direction.

  In addition, when the press position where the finger is first touched from the released state is the multiple element detection position, the rotation direction can be detected by the transition to the next single element detection state. Accordingly, the position of the sensor element on the near side is set as the start position. Therefore, for example, when the first press position is the L1-L2 detection position, L1 is set as the clockwise start position and L2 is set as the counterclockwise start position.

  FIG. 15 shows a flowchart of processing of the touch sensor driver TSD in this case. First, during the execution of the lock security application AP2, for example, when a security lock release process for enabling / disabling a billing service using RFID is selected and contact of the sensor unit 120 is started by the user (S41), time counting is performed. At the same time, the start position in the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation detection is calculated based on the detection result of the press position first touched by the finger, and is stored in the storage area 142 of the storage unit 140 shown in FIG. (S43). Here, assuming that the L1 detection position is first touched, the position L1 is held as a start position in clockwise and counterclockwise rotation detection.

  After that, when the control unit 110 first detects that the user has started the lap operation from the change in the contact signal read from the queue QUE, the control unit 110 moves the contact detection position (current location) at the detected time point (current position). It is stored in the storage area 142 as a reference point for specifying the direction (S45). Therefore, if the start position is L1 and L2 is held as the current position as a reference point, it is determined as the “clockwise” direction. If R4 is held as the reference point, the “counterclockwise” direction is determined. It will be judged.

  If the reference point is held, a change occurs in the contact signal read from the cue QUE, and whenever the movement of the contact position is detected (S47), the current contact detection position accompanying this movement reaches the start position (base point). It is determined whether or not it has been reached (S49). If it has not reached the start position (base point), the moving direction is specified based on the difference between the position detected immediately before and the current position (S51). Then, it is determined whether or not this moving direction is different from the moving direction held in step S45 (S53). Here, if the movement directions coincide with each other, it is determined that the movement is continuously detected in the same circulation direction, and the process proceeds to step S47 to continue the movement determination. If they do not coincide, the movement direction newly specified this time is held. The content is changed / updated from the previously moved direction, and the content held in the holding region 142 is updated with the immediately previous contact detection position as a new start position (base point) based on the current position. That is, when the rotation direction is reversed during the turning operation, the position where the reversal is started is used as a base point.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S49 that it has moved to the start position (base point), it is detected as a clockwise or counterclockwise round at that time (S57). Whether the rotation is clockwise or counterclockwise is specified based on the movement direction held in the holding area 142, and the holding area 142 holds that one-round detection has been performed in the specified movement direction. If there is another round detection that has been detected, the held content is updated to be added to this. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time (for example, several seconds) has elapsed (S59). If the predetermined time has not elapsed, it is further determined whether or not a finger has been released based on the contact signal (S61). If not released, the process proceeds to step S47, and the next round is detected. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S59 that the predetermined time has elapsed or if it is determined in step S61 that it has been released, the lap detection mode is terminated at that point.

  Finally, the touch sensor driver TSD notifies the number of laps for each moving direction held in the holding area 142 to the active application program such as the security lock application via the base application BA. The notified application program performs processing according to the number of laps in each movement direction. For example, when the security lock application is running and the number of laps in each movement direction is notified during the unlocking process, it is determined whether or not the unlocking conditions set as described above are met. For example, the security lock is released, the RFID module RFID activation process is started, and the state transits to a state where communication with the billing service can be performed. Further, whether or not the unlocking condition is satisfied is also displayed on the sub display portion ELD.

  Note that when a predetermined time has passed since the start of the first contact (press start), even if contact detection has occurred, the security lock application is forcibly determined as “the predetermined rounding operation has not been performed within the predetermined time”. The lock release process may not be accepted, or the detection of the turning operation may be terminated even when the next movement is not detected within a predetermined time after the movement is detected. In this way, by handling only operations within a certain time frame as a series of circular operations, it is possible to prevent erroneous operations and improve security.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when one of the sensor elements L1 to L4 and R1 to R4 arranged in a ring (for example, L1) detects contact in the “circulation detection mode”, the one is detected. The position of the sensor element L1 is set as the start position, the rotation direction is specified with the position of the sensor element (L2 or R4) that detects the next contact from the start position as a reference point, and starts in the rotation direction detected from the start position When it detects that a plurality of sensor elements have sequentially detected contact until a position, detects one turn in the turn direction, and when a change in the turn direction is detected based on sequential changes in the contact signal, The contact detection position is used as a reference point in the rotation direction, and the previous contact detection position is used as a start position to detect one rotation in the rotation direction. And reliably detect the predetermined orbiting including, it is possible to release the security lock. In other words, since the base point position is updated when reversal occurs, the rotation operation in the reversed direction is started in the middle even though the user performed the rotation operation in a certain direction. Therefore, it is possible to detect one turn by reliably making one turn with respect to this inversion. Further, since it is possible for the user to understand to some extent whether or not the movement of his / her finger has moved one round, it is possible to perform a circular operation without storing the position on the exterior of the housing.

  Here, 16 sensor element detection states including a plurality of element detection states in which two adjacent sensor elements detect contact at the same time are monitored to detect laps, but only a single sensor element is detected. It is also possible to detect the circulation by monitoring the detection states of the eight sensor elements that detect contact. In addition, in the detection of one round, an example in which one round is generated by “detection of movement in one direction from the base point to the base point” has been shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to generate one round with “detection of movement to a slightly forward position” in the rotation direction).

  Furthermore, when performing a plurality of forward / reverse rotation detections, the amount of rotation required for one rotation detection for each rotation detection is ambiguous, but the base point position is not changed even if inversion occurs. It may be configured. In other words, in steps S53 and S55 in FIG. 15, even if inversion is detected, the base point position is not updated, and this can be realized by continuously using the first pressed position as the base point. Also in this case, since the base point position is clear for the user, even when a large number of rotation detections are required, the amount of movement required for the rotation detection for each round is easy to visually recognize, so that operation errors can be reduced.

  In addition, following the first direction round, the second direction round reverse to this is detected, and when the third round is detected, the base point of this third round is from the second direction round of the second round. When the direction is switched in the first direction, by adopting the base position at the time of the second turn when the turn is made in the second direction continuously from the second turn in the second turn. Thus, it is not unnatural for the user, and each lap can be reliably detected for one lap.

Next, in FIG. 16, a plurality of functional units are relayed to the control unit 110 by a single serial interface unit SI, and each functional unit and the control unit 110 perform signals by switching the connection source and the connection destination by the switching unit SW. It is a figure which shows a mode that it transmits / receives.
FIG. 16 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the open / close detection device OCD in FIG. 3 detects that the housing has transitioned from the open state (first state) to the closed state (second state) while the power of the mobile phone terminal 100 is turned on. (Step S1), the sub display portion display application AP1 is activated, and the sub display portion display application AP1 requests activation of the touch sensor driver TSD. When the activation is requested, the touch sensor driver TSD requests the serial interface unit SI in the device layer DL to open a communication port for signal transmission / reception with respect to the touch sensor driver TSD (step S2). At this time, when the touch sensor is used, the switching unit SW switches the UART line of the serial interface unit SI to be connected to the touch sensor module TSM, and when the touch sensor is not used, which device unit is the UART line. Maintain an open state that is not connected to either.

Thereafter, when the start of RFID communication is requested due to the operation of the touch sensor driver TSD or other factors (step S3), the RFID application APRF as the RFID processing unit is activated. Then, the RFID application APRF requests the touch sensor TSD to close the communication port of the serial interface unit SI (step S4). In response, the touch sensor TSD causes the serial interface unit SI to close the communication port (step S5). When the touch sensor TSD is closed, the touch sensor TSD reports the completion to the RFID application APRF (step S6).
Next, the RFID application APRF opens a communication port for the RFID application APRF of the serial interface unit SI (step S7), and then switches the switching unit SW to the switching control unit SWCON with the UART line of the serial interface unit SI as an RFID module. Is requested to switch the connection (step S8).

  Thereafter, when the communication desired by the user is terminated by the RFID communication and an instruction to terminate the RFID communication is issued from the control unit 110 (step S9), first, the RFID application APRF switches to the switching control unit SWCON. The unit SW is requested to switch the connection unit (UART line) of the serial interface unit SI to a state where it is not connected to any device unit, and is switched (step S10). Further, the RFID application APRF closes the communication port for the RFID application APRF of the serial interface unit SI (step S11), and this time the communication port for the touch sensor driver TSD of the serial interface unit SI for the touch sensor driver TSD. Is requested to open again (step S12). In response to this, the touch sensor driver TSD opens the communication port again (step S13), and notifies the RFID application APRF that the opening process has been completed (step S14).

  Thereafter, when use of the touch sensor is requested by the sub display unit display application AP1 or the like (step S15), the UART line of the serial interface unit SI is switched to the touch sensor module TSM side (step S16). Furthermore, when the touch sensor driver TSD transitions to the non-use state of the touch sensor (for example, the housing transitions to the open state (first state)) (step S17), the touch sensor driver TSD causes the switching unit SWCON to switch to the switching unit SWCON. Requests the UART to switch to a state in which no device unit is connected (step S18), and requests the power supply controller PSCON to stop the power supply from the power supply PS to the touch sensor module TSM when the switching is completed. Then, the touch sensor module TSM is turned off.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since a plurality of functional units can be switched and connected to a single serial communication interface, the basic software configuration of the mobile phone body can be changed without much change. Functional units that can only be installed in some models can be added.

  Furthermore, when the function unit to be added is a user interface having a function as an operation unit such as a touch sensor, it is necessary to transmit the input to the user interface to the control unit in real time. However, according to the present invention, when other function units connected to the serial interface unit are in a non-use state, the communication port to the user interface of the serial interface unit is set to be opened. Since the input signal can be transmitted to the control unit, the user interface is added to the basic configuration of the mobile phone, but the response is not deteriorated and the user does not feel stress. There is an effect.

In connection switching in the serial interface unit, UART switching itself can be performed in a short time because only electrical signal switching is required. However, with regard to communication port settings, the signal source and destination This requires more time than UART switching. However, according to the present invention, as the functional unit added to the serial interface unit, in addition to the touch sensor, the infrared communication unit and the RFID, which are devices that do not cause simultaneous processing with the touch sensor, are used. Enables exclusive connection switching of device connections. As a result, the touch sensor as the user interface that requires the highest response is given the highest priority, and the communication port for the touch sensor is set when other infrared communication units and RFID are not used. Can be left open.
In addition, as described above, switching of UART is switching of electrical connection. However, since the UART is switched after all the communication ports are in the closed state, noise or the like associated with switching for each functional unit. Is not mixed. Further, each device unit such as a touch sensor module can eliminate wasteful power consumption when not in use by stopping power supply after the UART connection is disconnected. In addition, even though a plurality of functional units are connected to the serial interface unit, the UART is disconnected when each device is not used, so that it is not necessary to wastefully supply the serial communication clock from the control unit. In addition, the load on the control unit can be reduced.

  Further, as in the mobile phone shown in the present invention, when the housing on which each device or control unit is mounted has a configuration such as a folding type or a sliding type that can form an open state and a closed state, the serial interface unit There may be a function unit that is prohibited from use depending on the open / closed state of the housing among the function units connected to the. For example, in the example shown in the present invention, the touch sensor can be used only in the closed state, and cannot be used in the open state. In such a case, the switching process of the serial interface unit is also performed according to an instruction from an application program that is activated when the casing is opened or closed. As a result, it is possible to change the availability of the touch sensor in conjunction with the opening and closing of the housing, without changing the basic software of the mobile phone. It is possible to give a state transition of a user interface unique to a flexible casing configuration.

  Furthermore, since the communication port open / close switching and UART switching trigger are configured to be performed by the processing unit of the newly activated device unit, it is necessary to have a dedicated application program for switching. In addition, since the switching can be executed while reducing the transmission and reception of instructions between application programs as much as possible, the switching control can be performed more quickly.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of invention. For example, control based on a predetermined rounding operation including forward and reverse rounds is not limited to releasing the security lock, and can be applied to various applications. For example, the above-described embodiment is suitable for an operation that requires accuracy such as locking, but when more speed is required, the forward direction of the rotation operation is more strictly detected than when one round is detected. Depending on how many times the direction of rotation in the reverse direction itself has occurred, a method of use that can be set as a predetermined number of revolutions is also conceivable. Such a case can be realized by counting the number of inversion detections in step S53 in FIG. 15 and notifying this to the application side.

  In addition, the plurality of sensor elements are not limited to an annular shape, but can be arranged in an arbitrary pattern as long as it is annular, such as a rectangular shape or a polygonal shape. It can be. In addition, the plurality of sensor elements may not have a donut shape with a central portion removed as long as the sensor elements are annular. Further, the sensor element is not limited to a capacitance type contact sensor or the thin film resistance type described above, but an optical method for detecting contact based on fluctuations in the amount of received light, a SAW method for detecting contact based on surface acoustic wave attenuation, and an induced current. It is possible to use an electromagnetic induction type sensor element that detects contact based on the occurrence of the above, and depending on the type of contact sensor, it is also possible to use an indicator that uses a dedicated pen other than a finger.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to a mobile phone terminal, but is applied to a portable electronic device such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance), a portable game machine, a portable audio player, a portable navigation device, a portable video player, a portable electronic dictionary, and a portable electronic book viewer. Can be widely applied.

It is a block diagram which shows the basic composition of the mobile telephone terminal which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. Similarly, it is a perspective view of a mobile phone terminal. Similarly, it is a detailed functional block diagram of a mobile phone terminal. Similarly, it is a block diagram which shows the more detailed structure of the touch sensor function of a mobile telephone terminal. Similarly, it is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of the component of the sensor part of a mobile telephone terminal, and a sub display part. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 5. It is a schematic block diagram explaining the process of the contact detection data from each sensor element in the mobile telephone terminal which concerns on embodiment. Similarly, it is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the "half-circle detection mode" in a mobile telephone terminal. Similarly, it is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of the "half-circle detection mode" in a mobile telephone terminal. It is a conceptual diagram which shows another sensor element detection state. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement of the other "half-circle detection mode" to which the 16 sensor element detection states shown in FIG. 10 are applied. It is a figure explaining the determination process at the time of applying the process of the flowchart of FIG. 11 to the contact to the sensor elements L1 to L4 of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the cancellation condition setting example of a communication function lock | rock. It is a conceptual diagram explaining operation | movement of the "around detection mode" in the mobile telephone terminal which concerns on embodiment. Similarly, it is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the “circulation detection mode”. It is a flowchart explaining the switching operation of a serial interface.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Cellular phone terminal 110 Control part 120 Sensor part 130 Display part 140 Storage part 142 Storage area 144 External data storage area 150 Information processing function part 160 Telephone function part 220 Camera 230 Light 300 Pre-processing part 310 A / D converter 320 Control part 330 Storage unit 350 Main display unit AP1 Sub display unit display application AP2 Lock security application AP3 Application AP3 Other application AP4 Radio application API Application program interface APIR Infrared communication application APRF RFID application application AUD Audio driver BA Base application CLK OS timer CNF Confirmation unit COM Communication unit DL Device layer EAP Earphone FLG Flag storage unit IH Interrupt handler IR Infrared communication unit IRD Infrared communication driver KE Key operation unit KSP Key scan port driver MIC Microphone NTF Result notification unit OCD Open / close detection device PNL Panel PR Protocol PS Power supply PSCON Power supply controller QUE Queue RD Radio driver RFD RFID driver RFID RFID module RM Radio module SI Serial interface unit SIMON Monitoring unit SP Speaker SW switching unit SWCON switching control unit TSBA Touch sensor base application block TSD Touch sensor driver TDB Touch sensor driver block TSM Touch sensor modules L1 to L4 Sensor elements R1 to R4 Sensor elements ELD Sub display units PNL Panels SP1 and SP2 Spacing units SW1 to SW4 Tact switch G1 first sensor element group G2 second sensor element group G3 nth sensor element Group AR1, AR2 arrow LS1~LS4 item TI Title BP1~BP3 reference point PP1~PP3 previous position CP1~CP3 current position

Claims (6)

A control unit, a plurality of functional units controlled by the control unit, and an interface unit that relays signal transmission between the control unit and the plurality of functional units,
Each of the plurality of functional units includes a processing unit executed by the control unit and a device unit controlled by the processing unit,
The interface unit includes a communication port that transmits a signal to a processing unit for each of the plurality of functional units, and a connection unit that transmits a signal to a device unit for each of the plurality of functional units,
The controller is
When activation of a functional unit other than the predetermined functional unit is requested among the plurality of functional units, the communication port to the processing unit of the predetermined functional unit of the interface unit is changed to a closed state, and then the Switch the communication port to the processing part of the other function part to the open state,
When the termination of the other function unit is requested, the communication port to the other function unit of the interface unit is switched to the closed state, and then the communication port to the predetermined function unit is transitioned to the open state.
If any of the plurality of functional units is not in use, the connection unit of the interface unit is not connected to any device unit of the plurality of functional units,
When using any of the plurality of functional units, the portable electronic device is controlled to connect to a device unit of a functional unit that uses the connection unit of the interface unit. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the device unit of the predetermined function unit has an operation input function capable of inputting an operation instruction to the control unit. The device of the predetermined functional unit in a state where the device unit of the predetermined functional unit is connected to the connection unit of the interface unit and the communication port to the processing unit of the predetermined functional unit is in an open state. When activation of the other function unit is requested by an operation instruction from the unit to the control unit, the control unit opens a communication connection with the predetermined function unit to the interface unit and The mobile electronic device according to claim 2, wherein a communication connection is requested to the functional unit. The control unit, the plurality of functional units, and the interface unit are provided, and includes a housing capable of forming a first state and a second state,
The device unit of the predetermined functional unit has an operation unit that accepts an input when the housing is in the second state and does not accept an input when the case is in the first state;
The control unit is in a state where the device unit of the predetermined function unit is connected to the connection unit of the interface unit and the communication port to the processing unit of the predetermined function unit of the interface unit is in an open state. 4. The control unit according to claim 2, wherein when the casing is changed from the second state to the first state, the connection unit of the interface unit is controlled to be disconnected from the device unit of the predetermined function unit. 5. Portable electronic devices. The device unit of the predetermined functional unit is a touch sensor that detects a contact by detecting a change in capacitance due to the occurrence of a contact in an energized state,
The control unit controls to stop energization of the touch sensor after disconnecting the connection unit of the interface unit from the device unit of the predetermined functional unit when transitioning from the second state to the first state. The portable electronic device according to claim 4, wherein: A control unit, a plurality of functional units having a processing unit executed by the control unit and a device unit controlled by the processing unit and transmitting / receiving signals to / from the control unit, the control unit, An interface unit that relays signal transmission between a plurality of functional units, and a control method in a portable electronic device comprising:
The plurality of functional units are respectively
A communication port switching step for switching between a communication port open state enabling signal transmission to the processing unit for each of the plurality of functional units of the interface unit and a communication port closed state disabling signal transmission;
A connection switching step of switching the connection to the device unit for each of the plurality of functional units of the interface unit,
In the communication port switching step, when activation of a function unit other than the predetermined function unit is requested among the plurality of function units, the interface unit is closed to the processing unit of the predetermined function unit. A step of switching to a communication port open state for the processing unit of the other functional unit after entering the state, and when the termination of the other functional unit is requested, the interface unit is connected to the communication port for the other functional unit. And switching to a communication port open state for the predetermined function unit after switching to a closed state,
The connection switching step includes a step of switching to a device unit of a function unit that uses a connection destination of the interface unit when using any of the plurality of function units. .

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