JP2009033700A - Portable terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability of a portable terminal device. <P>SOLUTION: In a cellular phone 1A, an opening section 7 is formed on an inner surface 6 of a lower case 3, and a key operating section 8 is arranged in the opening section 7. The dimension of the key operating section 8 in the right-left direction in the cellular phone 1A is smaller than the dimension of the opening section 7 in the right-left direction. The key operating section 8 can move along the right-left direction of the cellular phone 1A in the opening section 7 by inserting a protrusion arranged on an end surface 8a of the key operating section 8 into a groove section formed on an inner circumference surface 7a of the opening section 7. Thus, the key operating section 8 can be arranged at a position where a user can easily operate. Furthermore, a second opening section is provided in the opening section 7 so as to appropriately use a joy stick. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a portable terminal. In particular, the present invention relates to a portable terminal whose input unit is movable in a casing.

In portable terminals such as cellular phones and PDAs (personal digital assistants), those that are operated by pressing the operation keys of the input unit with a finger are widely used. The operation keys are fixed to the housing and are usually arranged in a well-balanced manner on the portable terminal so that both the right hand and the left hand can be operated.

In addition, with the increasing use of the Internet, e-mail, and the like in mobile terminals, the display screen tends to increase due to the large amount of information handled. In the portable terminal, the input screen becomes larger due to the larger display screen. For example, when the input unit is provided on the lower side of the display screen, the width of the input unit is increased together with the width of the display screen.

However, since the operation keys are fixed to the casing, the operability of the mobile terminal is poor because a specific operation key is arranged at a position where it is difficult to operate depending on the size of the hand depending on the person. There was a problem.

In addition, as the display screen becomes larger, the input unit becomes larger, so that there are operation keys that are difficult to reach by fingers, and the operability of the portable terminal is lowered. Accordingly, there has been a limit to increasing the display screen in terms of operability of the mobile terminal.

  Therefore, it is desired to improve operability in the mobile terminal.

The portable terminal of the present invention includes a housing having an opening formed on a predetermined surface, and an input unit provided on the opening, and the input unit extends in one direction along the predetermined surface. The size is smaller than the opening, and the inside of the opening is provided to be movable in the one direction.

Preferably, the opening has a pair of opposed inner peripheral surfaces formed along the one direction, and the input unit faces the pair of inner peripheral surfaces of the opening. A groove portion is formed along the one direction on one of the inner circumferential surface and the end surface facing each other, and a protrusion inserted into the groove portion is formed on the other side. Provided.

Preferably, a plurality of concave portions are formed in the groove portion along the one direction, and the input portion is fixed by fitting the projection into any one of the plurality of concave portions.

Preferably, the input unit is divided into a plurality of parts, and the plurality of parts are configured to be movable along the one direction independently.

Preferably, the opening has a pair of opposed inner peripheral surfaces formed along the one direction, and the input unit faces the pair of inner peripheral surfaces of the opening. It has an end surface formed along one direction, and is composed of a plurality of parts divided by the end surface formed along the one direction, and is opposed to the inner peripheral surface of the opening and the end surface of the input unit And the end parts which the said several parts oppose are couple | bonded by magnetic force, The said input part can change arrangement | positioning of these several parts.

Preferably, in the portable terminal, a second input unit is provided on the back side of the input unit in the opening.

  Preferably, in the portable terminal, the second input unit is a touch pad.

Preferably, the portable terminal has a third input unit that is operated by the contact when the protrusion is brought into contact with the input unit by moving the input unit along the one direction.

Preferably, in the portable terminal, the function of the input unit is changed according to an operation on the third input unit.

Preferably, the protrusions are provided at both ends with respect to at least the one direction in each of the end surfaces of the input portion facing the pair of opposed inner peripheral surfaces of the opening, and the groove portions are Formed on each of the pair of inner peripheral surfaces of the opening, having a notch for allowing the protrusion to pass through and disengaging from the groove on the predetermined surface side, disposing the protrusion at one end in the groove, The input portion can be rotated around the protrusion at the one end by removing the protrusion from the groove portion from the notch portion.

Preferably, in the portable terminal, the function of the input unit is changed by the rotation of the input unit.

  Preferably, the portable terminal further includes a second opening in a part of the opening, and the second opening can be connected to a joystick.

According to the portable terminal of the present invention, the operability of the portable terminal can be improved by moving the input unit.

(First embodiment)
With reference to FIG. 1, a mobile phone 1A according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG.
These are perspective views of the mobile phone 1A. The cellular phone 1A has a folding structure, and FIG. 1 shows the inner surface side of the cellular phone 1A in an open state.

  The configuration of the mobile phone 1A will be described.

The cellular phone 1 </ b> A includes an upper housing 2, a lower housing 3, and a hinge portion 4 that rotatably couples the upper housing 2 and the lower housing 3. Here, the lower housing 3 is an example of a housing in the present invention. The cellular phone 1A can be folded by rotating the upper housing 2 and the lower housing 3 with the hinge portion 4 as a fulcrum, with the side shown in FIG.

The upper housing 2 is provided with a display screen 5 on the inner surface. The display screen 5 is a liquid crystal screen, for example.

The lower housing 3 has a flat inner surface 6 and a space is formed therein. Here, the inner surface 6 is an example of a predetermined surface of the housing in the portable terminal of the present invention. A rectangular opening 7 that opens an internal space is formed in the inner surface 6. Opening 7 has a pair of opposed inner peripheral surfaces 7a formed along the left-right direction of mobile phone 1A (the X direction shown in FIG. 1; the same applies hereinafter, hereinafter simply referred to as “left-right direction”). . Here, the left-right direction is an example of one direction in the mobile terminal of the present invention.

A key operation unit 8 is provided in the opening 7. Here, the key operation unit 8 is an example of an input unit in the present invention. The key operation unit 8 has a rectangular plane, and has a function key operation unit 9 and a numeric keypad operation unit 10 on this plane. The function key operation unit 9 includes operation keys such as direction keys and an enter key. The numeric keypad 10 includes character and numeric input keys. Key operation unit 8
Is substantially the same size as the opening 7 in the vertical direction of the mobile phone 1A (Y direction shown in FIG. 1; hereinafter the same; hereinafter, simply referred to as “vertical direction”).
It is smaller than the size of.

The key operation unit 8 has an end surface 8 a that is formed along the left-right direction and faces the pair of inner peripheral surfaces 7 a of the opening 7.

The key operation unit 8 can move in the left-right direction within the opening 7, and a detailed structure thereof will be described later.

A touch pad 11 is provided on the back side of the key operation unit 8. Where touchpad 1
1 is an example of a second input unit in the portable terminal of the present invention. The touch pad 11 is fixed to the lower housing 3 by closing the opening 7. Since the key operation unit 8 is smaller than the size of the opening 7, a portion of the touch pad 11 that is not covered by the key operation unit 8 is exposed. The exposed portion of the touch pad 11 changes as the key operation unit 8 moves in the left-right direction.

When the touch pad 11 traces the exposed surface with a finger, the touch pad 11 detects the locus of the finger based on the charge accumulated on the finger. Thereby, the mobile phone 1A can be operated in conjunction with the locus of the finger. As the touch pad 11, the thing generally used with the notebook personal computer etc. can be used.

With reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C, the internal structure of the mobile phone 1A will be described. FIG.
) Is a partially exploded view of the mobile phone 1A. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIb-IIb in FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken along IIc-IIc in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the circuit board 13 that controls the mobile phone 1 </ b> A is fixed to the lower housing 3 in the space 12 inside the lower housing 3. The circuit board 13 is connected to a battery (not shown) disposed in the space 12. The opening 7 that opens the space 12 is closed by attaching the touch pad 11 to the lower housing 3. The touch pad 11 is electrically connected to the circuit board 13 through wiring not shown.

A through hole 11a is formed in the touch pad 11 at a position where the key operation unit 8 is not exposed in a state where the key operation unit 8 is moved in the left-right direction. The key operation unit 8 is provided on the surface side of the touch pad 11, and the key operation unit 8 and the circuit board 13 are electrically connected by a flexible cable 14 having flexibility through the through hole 11 a of the touch pad 11. Is done.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the inner peripheral surface 7a of the opening 7 is provided with a groove 7b extending in the left-right direction. A plurality of concave portions 8d are formed in the groove portion 7b by a plurality of convex portions 8c provided along the left-right direction. In the recess 8d, a plurality of switches 15 are provided with the switch portions protruding into the groove portions 7b. Here, the switch 15 is an example of a third input unit in the present invention.

Further, the key operation portion 8 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 8b on the respective end surfaces 8a along the left-right direction. The protrusions 8b are provided such that the end surfaces 8a are located at the same position in the left-right direction. Here, on each end face 8a, two protrusions 8b are provided at both ends in the left-right direction.

The key operating portion 8 is provided in the opening 7 by inserting the protrusion 8 b of the key operating portion 8 into the groove 7 b of the opening 7. At this time, the protrusion 8b of the key operation portion 8 is received in the recess 8d of the groove portion 7b, whereby the key operation portion 8 is fixed in the opening 7.

  The operation of the mobile phone 1A will be described.

When a lateral force is applied to the key operation portion 8, the projection 8c provided in the groove 7b of the opening 7 and the projection 8b of the key operation portion 8 come into contact with each other and bend, and the projection 8b passes over the projection 8c and is adjacent. It moves to the concave portion 8d. Thereby, the key operation part 8 moves in the left-right direction within the opening part 7, and is fixed in the recessed part 8d. Then, the key operation unit 8 can be fixed at a desired position in the opening 7 by moving the key operation unit 8 and selecting any one of the plurality of recesses 8d.

At this time, even if the key operation unit 8 is moved, the flexible connection of the flexible cable 14 maintains the electrical connection between the key operation unit 8 and the circuit board 13.

In addition to the operation of the key operation unit 8, the cellular phone 1A is operated by operating the exposed portion of the touch pad 11 with a finger. For example, by operating the touch pad 11, the image can be scrolled or the pointer can be moved on the display screen 5 of the upper housing 2 in conjunction with the locus of the finger.

Further, by moving the key operation unit 8, the cellular phone 1 </ b> A is operated using the fact that the switch 15 is turned on by being pushed by the protrusion 8 b of the key operation unit 8. For example, activation of software such as the Internet, mail, camera, and game is assigned to each switch 15, and the switch 15 is selected by moving the key operation unit 8, and the determination key of the function key 9 is pressed. Start the desired software. In this case, it is preferable to display the contents of the selected switch 15 on the display screen 5.

After operating the cellular phone 1A by moving the key operation unit 8, the key operation unit 8 is again operated.
Is returned to the original position, the cellular phone 1A can be operated at the desired position of the key operation unit 8.

Further, the function of the key operation unit 8 can be changed by using the switch 15 to be turned on by the movement of the key operation unit 8. For example, switching of input characters such as kana, katakana, alphabets, and numbers is assigned to each switch 15, the switch 15 is selected by moving the key operation unit 8 in the same manner as described above, and the enter key of the function key 9 Press to switch to the desired input character. Also in this case, it is preferable to display the content of the selected switch 15 on the display screen 5.

  The configuration and operation of the mobile phone 1A have been described above.

Thus, by making the key operation unit 8 movable, the key operation unit 8 can be disposed at a position where the user can easily operate, so that the operability of the mobile phone 1A is improved.

Further, even when the display screen 5 is enlarged, the operability of the mobile phone 1A is improved because the key operation unit 8 can be moved to a position where the finger can reach. That is, in the mobile phone 1A, since the operability is not lowered by moving the key operation unit 8, the size of the display screen 5 that is restricted from the viewpoint of operability can be made larger than before. Is possible.

Furthermore, by providing a touch pad 11 on the back side of the key operation unit 8, the key operation unit 8 is provided.
The operability of the mobile phone 1 </ b> A can be further improved by utilizing a portion that is free for moving the mobile phone.

In addition, in the cellular phone 1A, the operability of the cellular phone 1A can be improved by using the movement of the key operating unit 8 by operating the cellular phone 1A by moving the key operating unit 8. In addition, by assigning operations that have been conventionally provided with dedicated keys such as activation of mail software to operations by moving the key operation unit 8, these dedicated keys become unnecessary, and the operation keys in the key operation unit 8 can be changed. The number can be reduced.

In the cellular phone 1 </ b> A, the key operation unit 8 can be made smaller by making the key operation unit 8 movable, so that the part cost can be reduced.

In addition, the 2nd input part in the portable terminal of this invention is not limited to the touchpad 11, It can be set as other input means, such as a touchscreen or a key operation part.

For example, when the second input unit is a touch panel, the mobile phone can be operated by selecting display items on the touch panel with an input pen (stylus) or directly inputting characters. .
In addition, the input unit in the portable terminal of the present invention is not limited to the key operation unit 8 and can be other input means such as a touch panel or a touch pad.

In the mobile phone 1A described above, the groove portion 7b is formed on the inner peripheral surface 7a of the opening 7, and the protrusion 8b is provided on the end surface 8a of the key operating portion 8, but the inner peripheral surface 7a of the opening 7 is reversed. It is also possible to form a groove on the end surface 8 a of the key operation unit 8 by providing a protrusion on the key operation unit 8.
(First modification of the first embodiment)
With reference to FIG. 3, a mobile phone 1B, which is a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, will be described focusing on differences from the mobile phone 1A of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mobile phone 1B which is a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the cellular phone 1 </ b> B, a key operation unit 21 is provided in a rectangular opening 7 formed in the lower housing 3. The opening 7 has a pair of opposed inner peripheral surfaces 7c formed along the vertical direction.

The key operation unit 21 is an example of an input unit in the mobile terminal of the present invention. Key operation unit 21
Is approximately the same size as the opening 7 in the left-right direction, but is smaller than the size of the opening 7 in the up-down direction. Therefore, in the mobile phone 1B, the vertical direction is one direction in the mobile terminal of the present invention.

The key operation unit 21 has an end surface 21 a that is formed along the vertical direction and faces the pair of inner peripheral surfaces 7 c of the opening 7. The inner peripheral surface 7c of the opening 7 and the end surface 21a of the key operation unit 21 facing each other.
Is the same as the configuration shown in FIG. Therefore, here FIG.
), The description is omitted.

  Thereby, the key operation part 21 can move in the opening 7 in the vertical direction.

Thus, in the present invention, the moving direction of the input unit can be set by the shape of the input unit.
(Second modification of the first embodiment)
With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a cellular phone 1C which is a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention is compared with the cellular phone 1A of the first embodiment shown in FIG. I will focus on the differences.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a mobile phone 1C which is a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVb-IVb in FIG.

In the mobile phone 1 </ b> C, a key operation unit 31 is provided in a rectangular opening 7 formed in the lower housing 3. The opening 7 is a pair of opposed inner peripheral surfaces 7a-1, 7a- formed along the left-right direction.
2 Here, along the vertical direction, the upper side is the inner peripheral surface 7a-1, and the lower side is the inner peripheral surface 7a-2.

The key operation unit 31 is an example of an input unit in the mobile terminal of the present invention. Key operation unit 31
Consists of a plurality of parts divided by end faces 32b, 33b formed along the left-right direction, and has a first part 32 on the upper side and a second part 33 on the lower side along the vertical direction. The size of the key operation unit 31 in the vertical direction is the sum of the sizes of the first portion 32 and the second portion 33, and is substantially the same as the size of the opening 7. The size of the key operation unit 31 in the left-right direction is the size of the first portion 32 and the second portion 33, and both are smaller than the size of the opening 7. Therefore, in the mobile phone 1C, the left-right direction is one direction in the mobile terminal of the present invention.

The function key operation unit 9 is disposed in the first portion 32 of the key operation unit 31. First part 3
2 has end faces 32a and 32b formed along the left-right direction. The end surface 32 a faces the inner peripheral surface 7 a-1 of the opening 7. The end surface 32 b faces the end surface 33 b of the second portion 33.

The ten key operation unit 10 is arranged in the second portion 33 of the key operation unit 31. The second portion 33 has end faces 33a and 33b formed along the left-right direction. The end surface 33a faces the inner peripheral surface 7a-2 of the opening 7. The end surface 33b of the second portion 33 faces the end surface 32b of the first portion 32 as described above.

The inner peripheral surface 7a-1 of the opening 7 and the end surface 32a of the first portion 32, and the inner peripheral surface 7a-2 of the opening 7 and the end surface 33a of the second portion 33 are shown in FIG. The configuration is the same as the configuration. Therefore, description is abbreviate | omitted here with reference to description of FIG.2 (C).

However, in the cellular phone 1 </ b> C, the switch 15 has both inner peripheral surfaces 7 a-1 and 7 a of the opening 7.
-2 groove 7b.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the end surface 32b of the first portion 32 is provided with a protruding portion 32c. The protrusion 32c is continuously formed along the left-right direction over the entire length of the end surface 32b. Further, a groove portion 33c corresponding to the shape of the protruding portion 32c is formed on the end surface 33b of the second portion 33 along the left-right direction. Then, the protruding portion 32 c of the first portion 32 is inserted into the groove portion 33 c of the second portion 33. Here, the protrusion 32c and the groove 33c are sized so that a gap is formed between them.

  The operation of the mobile phone 1C will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (A), 4 (B) and 2 (C).

In the mobile phone 1C, for example, when a lateral force is applied to the first portion 32, the projection 8b provided on the end surface 32a of the first portion 32 is formed in the opening 7 as in the above-described mobile phone 1A. The groove part 7b formed in the surrounding surface 7a-1 is moved. In addition, the end face 32 of the first portion 32.
The projecting portion 32 c formed on the second portion 33 moves in the groove portion 33 c formed on the end surface 33 b of the second portion 33. As a result, the first portion 32 moves in the left-right direction within the opening 7. In the first portion 32, the protrusion 8b provided on the end surface 32a has an inner peripheral surface 7a-
It is fixed by being stored in any one of a plurality of recesses 8d in the groove 7b formed in 1.

  The same applies to the second portion 33.

And since the switch 15 is provided in the groove part 7b of both the internal peripheral surfaces 7a-1 and 7a-2 of the opening part 7, it is the above-mentioned by each movement of the 1st part 32 and the 2nd part 33. The mobile phone 1C can be operated in the same manner as the mobile phone 1A.

In addition, in the end surface 32b of the 1st part 32, the protrusion part 32c is continuously formed along the left-right direction over the full length of the end surface 32b, and the end surface 32b of the 1st part 32, and the 2nd part 3 are formed.
Even when the number of joint portions with the third end face 33b is reduced, the first portion 32 and the second portion 33 are reliably joined.

Thus, since the 1st part 32 and the 2nd part 33 can move independently along the left-right direction, the key operation part 31 is easy to operate for every part of the key operation part 31. Since it can be arranged at a position, the operability of the mobile phone 1C is improved.

In addition, since the mobile phone 1C can be operated by moving the first portion 32 and the second portion 33, the operability of the mobile phone 1C is further improved.

In the mobile phone 1 </ b> C, the size in the left-right direction can be changed between the first portion 32 and the second portion 33. Further, the key operation part 31 can be divided into three or more parts by an end face formed along the left-right direction. Furthermore, the key operation unit 31 can be divided into a plurality of parts in the vertical direction.
(Third modification of the first embodiment)
Referring to FIG. 5, the difference between mobile phone 1D, which is the third modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, and mobile phone 1B of the first modification of the first embodiment shown in FIG. It is stated at the center.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cellular phone 1D that is a third modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the cellular phone 1 </ b> D, a key operation unit 41 is provided in a rectangular opening 7 formed in the lower housing 3. The cellular phone 1D has an end face 42b, 4 having a key operation portion 41 formed along the left-right direction.
The mobile phone 1B is different from the mobile phone 1B in that the first part 42 and the second part 43 are divided into a plurality of parts by 3b.

In the cellular phone 1D, the vertical direction is one direction in the portable terminal of the present invention, but the key operation unit 41 is divided by end faces 42b and 43b formed along the horizontal direction. This is different from the mobile phone 1C which is the second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

In addition, about the attachment to the opening part 7 of the key operation part 41, since it is the structure same as the structure of the mobile telephone 1B mentioned above, description is abbreviate | omitted.

As a result, the key operation unit 41 converts a plurality of parts of the first part 42 and the second part 43 into
Each can move independently along the vertical direction. Therefore, since it can be set in the position where each key operation unit 41 can be easily operated, the operability of the mobile phone 1D is improved.
(Second Embodiment)
With reference to FIGS. 6A to 6C, the cellular phone 1E according to the second embodiment of the present invention is compared with the cellular phone 1C according to the first modification of the first embodiment shown in FIG. I will focus on the differences.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing a first state of the mobile phone 1E according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6B is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the arrangement of the magnetic poles in the first state of the key operation unit 51. FIG. 6C is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the arrangement of the magnetic poles in the second state of the key operation unit 51. 6B and 6C, the end surface 7a of the opening 7, the first portion 52 of the key operation portion 51, and the second portion 53 of the key operation portion 51 are separated for the sake of explanation. Show.

  The configuration of the mobile phone 1E will be described.

In the cellular phone 1 </ b> E, a key operation unit 51 is provided in a rectangular opening 7 formed in the lower housing 3. The opening 7 has a pair of opposed inner peripheral surfaces 7a formed along the left-right direction. A soft iron 61 is provided on the entire inner circumferential surface 7a. The soft iron 61 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface 7a with an adhesive or the like. The soft iron 61 has a property of a temporary magnet that becomes a magnet only while receiving magnetization from an external magnetic field.

The key operation unit 51 is an example of an input unit in the mobile terminal of the present invention. Key operation unit 51
Consists of a plurality of parts divided by end faces 52b and 53b formed along the left-right direction. In the first state shown in FIGS. Part 52
The second portion 53 is provided on the lower side. Similar to the key operation unit 31 in the mobile phone 1C, the key operation unit 51 is substantially the same in size in the vertical direction as the size of the opening 7, and the size in the left-right direction is the first part 52 and the second part. Both portions 53 are smaller than the size of the opening 7. Therefore, in the mobile phone 1E, the left-right direction is one direction in the mobile terminal of the present invention.

The first portion 52 has end faces 52a and 52b formed along the left-right direction. End face 5
2 a faces the inner peripheral surface 7 a of the opening 7. A permanent magnet 62a is provided on the entire end surface 52a. The permanent magnet 62a is fixed to the end surface 52a with an adhesive or the like. As shown in FIG. 6B, the permanent magnet 62a has an N pole on the inner peripheral surface 7a side and an S pole on the end face 52a side.

The end surface 52 b faces the end surface 53 b of the second portion 53. A permanent magnet 62b is provided on the entire end surface 52b. The permanent magnet 62b is fixed to the end surface 52b with an adhesive or the like. As shown in FIG. 6B, the permanent magnet 62b has an N pole on the end face 52b side and an S pole on the end face 53b side of the second portion 53.

The second portion 53 has end faces 53a and 53b formed along the left-right direction. End face 5
3 a faces the inner peripheral surface 7 a of the opening 7. A permanent magnet 62c is provided on the entire end surface 53a. The permanent magnet 62c is fixed to the end surface 53a with an adhesive or the like. As shown in FIG. 6B, the permanent magnet 62c has an S pole on the inner peripheral surface 7a side and an N pole on the end face 53a side.

The end surface 53 b faces the end surface 52 b of the first portion 52. A permanent magnet 62d is provided on the entire end surface 53b. The permanent magnet 62d is fixed to the end surface 53b with an adhesive or the like. As shown in FIG. 6B, the permanent magnet 62d has an S pole on the end face 53b side and an N pole on the end face 52b side of the first portion 52.

For example, ferrite magnets or alnico magnets can be used as the permanent magnets 62a to 62d.

Thereby, in the 1st state of the key operation part 51, the 1st part 52 is the soft iron 61 and the magnet 6.
2a is coupled to the inner peripheral surface 7a of the opening 7 by the magnetic force generated between the opening 2 and the magnetic force. Here, the magnetic force is an attractive force and a repulsive force generated between the magnets. That is, the soft iron 61 is generated by the magnetic field of the magnet 62a.
Is magnetized into a magnet, and an attractive force is generated between the soft iron 61 and the magnet 62a, so that the soft iron 6
1 and the magnet 62a are coupled. Thereby, the 1st part 52 is the soft iron 61 and the magnet 62a.
And is coupled to the inner peripheral surface 7 a of the opening 7.

Similarly, the second portion 53 is caused by the magnetic force generated between the soft iron 61 and the magnet 62c.
It is coupled to the inner peripheral surface 7 a of the opening 7.

The first portion 52 and the second portion 53 are coupled by a magnetic force generated between the magnet 62b and the magnet 62d. That is, between the first portion 52 and the second portion 53, the magnet 62b.
The south pole of the magnet and the north pole of the magnet 62d face each other, so that an attractive force is generated and the magnet 62b and the magnet 62d are coupled. As a result, the first portion 52 and the second portion 53 are separated from each other by the magnet 62b and the magnet 6.
Coupled through 2d.

  The operation of the mobile phone 1E will be described.

In the mobile phone 1E, in the first state of the key operation unit 51 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, for example, when a horizontal force is applied to the first portion 52, the soft iron 61 extends along the horizontal direction. The first portion 52 moves in the left-right direction in the opening portion 7 by shifting the coupling between the magnet 62a and the magnet 62a and by shifting the coupling between the magnet 62b and the magnet 62d. The first portion 52 is fixed by the magnetic force generated between the opening 7 and the second portion 53 when it does not receive the force in the left-right direction.

  The same applies to the second portion 53.

In this way, in the key operation unit 51, the first portion 52 and the second portion 53 can move independently along the left-right direction.

Further, the key operation unit 51 can change the arrangement of the first portion 52 and the second portion 53.

In the first state of the key operation unit 51 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the first portion 52 and the second portion 53 are removed from the opening portion 7 against the magnetic force. Then, the second portion 53 is disposed on the upper side and the first portion 52 is disposed on the lower side in the opening 7 along the vertical direction, so that the operation portion 51 is in the second state shown in FIG. . Also in the second state, in the key operation unit 51, the arrangement of the magnetic poles by the first portion 52 and the second portion 53 is the same as that in the first state described above. Therefore, also in the second state, the first portion 52 and the second portion 53 are coupled to the opening 7 by magnetic force in the same manner as in the first state described above.

In the key operation unit 51, in the second state, the first portion 52 and the second portion can be independently moved in the left-right direction in the same manner as in the first state described above. ing.

As described above, in the key operation unit 51, the first part 52 and the second part 53 can be moved independently along the left-right direction, so that each part of the key operation part 51 can be easily operated. Therefore, the operability of the mobile phone 1E is improved.

In addition, since the arrangement of the first portion 52 and the second portion 53 can be changed in the key operation unit 51, the key operation unit 51 itself can be changed to an arrangement that is easy to operate. The operability of 1E is improved.

In the mobile phone 1 </ b> E, another magnetic body can be used instead of the soft iron 61 for the inner peripheral surface 7 a of the opening 7. However, the position of the first portion 52 and the second portion 53 can be easily exchanged by using the temporary magnet soft iron 61. Further, if a magnet is provided on the inner peripheral surface 7a, the magnetic force may be too strong or the magnetic pole may be repulsive with the same polarity.
These can be avoided by using 1.

Further, the key operation part 51 can be divided into three or more parts by an end face formed along the left-right direction.

Furthermore, the configuration of the cellular phone 1E is applied to the cellular phone 1D which is the third modification of the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. It is also possible to couple to the inner peripheral surface 7c by magnetic force. According to this, in the key operation unit 41, the positions of the first portion 42 and the second portion 43 can be switched to change the arrangement.
(Third embodiment)
With reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C, a mobile phone 1F according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C with respect to the mobile phone 1F according to the third embodiment of the present invention. I will focus on the differences.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing a basic state of a mobile phone 1F according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a state where the key operation unit 8 of the mobile phone 1F is opened to the right side.
FIG. 7C is a diagram illustrating a state in which the key operation unit 8 of the mobile phone 1F is opened to the left side.

  The configuration of the mobile phone 1F will be described.

In the cellular phone 1F, the opening 7 has only a pair of opposed inner peripheral surfaces 7a formed along the left-right direction. That is, the opening 7 has an inner peripheral surface 7c (
3) is not provided.

A groove 7b (see FIG. 2C) formed on the inner peripheral surface 7a of the opening 7 has notches 71a and 71b on the inner surface 6 side of the lower housing 3. The notches 71a and 71b are connected to the groove 7b and are sized so that the protrusions 8b-1 and 8b-2 provided on the end surface 8a of the key operation unit 8 can pass therethrough. The notches 71a and 71b are the other of the protrusions 8b-1 and 8b-2 provided on the same end surface 8a in a state where one of the protrusions 8b-1 and 8b-2 is disposed at the end of the groove 8b in the left-right direction. Is formed on the inner surface 6 corresponding to the location of the.

The key operation unit 8 has an end surface 8a facing the pair of inner peripheral surfaces 7a of the opening 7 formed along the left-right direction. Two protrusions 8b-1 and 8b-2 are provided on the end face 8a at positions corresponding to both ends with respect to the left-right direction.

The key operation unit 8 is connected to the circuit board 13 (non-contact communication such as infrared communication or wireless communication).
(See FIG. 2B).

  The operation of the mobile phone 1F will be described.

For example, a rightward force is applied to the key operation unit 8 to move the key operation unit 8 to the right end in the opening 7. In this state, the protrusion 8b-1 provided on the end surface 8a of the key operation unit 8 is disposed at the right end of the groove 7b of the opening 7, and the protrusion 8b-2 is the position of the notch 71b. for that reason,
By removing the protrusion 8b-2 from the groove part 8b through the notch 71b, the key operation part 8 rotates clockwise around the protrusion 8b-1 as shown in FIG. 7B. The key operation unit 8 rotates to a position where the key operation unit 8 contacts the lower housing 3. In addition, since the inner peripheral surface formed along the up-down direction is not provided in the opening part 7, the key operation part 8 can rotate to 180 degree | times.

  Thus, in the mobile phone 1F, the key operation unit 8 is opened to the right side.

On the other hand, when a leftward force is applied to the key operation unit 8 and the key operation unit 8 is moved to the left end of the opening 7, in this state, the protrusion 8 b-2 provided on the end surface 8 a of the key operation unit 8 is opened.
The protrusion 8b-1 is the position of the notch 71a. Therefore, by removing the projection 8b-1 from the groove 8b through the notch 71a, the key operation unit 8 rotates counterclockwise around the projection 8b-2 as shown in FIG. 7C. The key operation unit 8 rotates to a position where the key operation unit 8 contacts the lower housing 3. In addition, since the inner peripheral surface formed along the up-down direction is not provided in the opening part 7, the key operation part 8 can rotate to 180 degree | times.

  Thus, in the cellular phone 1F, the key operation unit 8 is opened to the left side.

Even when the key operation unit 8 is rotated and opened to the right side or the left side, the connection between the key operation unit 8 and the circuit board 13 is maintained by non-contact communication.

As described above, by making the key operation unit 8 rotatable, the key operation unit 8 is opened from the opening 7, and almost the entire surface of the touch pad 11 is exposed. Thereby, since operation mainly using the touch pad 11 can be performed according to use of the mobile phone 1F, the operability of the mobile phone 1F is improved. It is possible to provide a touch panel and a key operation unit in place of the touch pad 11, and even in this case, the operation is performed using almost the entire touch panel and the key operation unit provided on the back side of the key operation unit 8. Therefore, the operability of the mobile phone 1F is improved.

In the cellular phone 1F, the key operation unit 8 and the circuit board 13 are connected by non-contact communication, but can be connected by a flexible cable 14 (see FIG. 2A) like the cellular phone 1A. . However, the flexible cable 14 may be exposed to the outside when the key operation unit 8 rotates or may interfere with the rotation of the key operation unit 8.
It is preferable to connect the key operation unit 8 and the circuit board 13 by non-contact communication.

In the cellular phone 1 </ b> F, the function of the key operation unit 8 can be changed by the rotation of the key operation unit 8. For example, a switch is provided at each end of the groove 8b with respect to the left-right direction, and a protrusion is provided on each side surface of the protrusions 8b-1 and 8b-2 of the key operation unit 8. Then, the protrusions 8b-1, 8b-2 are arranged at the ends of the groove 8b with respect to the left-right direction and rotated, so that when the key operation part 8 reaches a predetermined rotation angle, the protrusions 8b-1, 8b-
The switch can be pushed in by the protruding portion provided in 2. The predetermined rotation angle is, for example, 180 degrees.

When the switch is turned on, for example, the game software is activated and the function of the key operation unit 8 can be changed for the game.

It is also possible to provide an input unit such as a key operation unit, a touch panel, or a touch pad (not shown) on the back surface 8d of the key operation unit 8, and use the input unit by rotating the key operation unit 8.

In the cellular phone 1F described above, the two protrusions 8b-1 and 8b-2 are provided on the end surface 8a of the key operation unit 8 in the left-right direction, but three or more protrusions are provided on each end surface 8a. Is also possible. In that case, a notch is formed in the inner surface 6 of the lower housing 3 such that protrusions other than the protrusion that becomes the center of rotation of the key operation part 8 are detached from the groove 8b.

Further, the position where the key operation unit 8 can rotate is not limited to the end of the opening 7 as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, and a desired position in the opening 7 depending on the position of the notch. Can be set to
(Fourth modification of the first embodiment)
The operation of the mobile phone 1G will be briefly described. Details will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a fourth modification of the mobile phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The opening 7 is further provided with a second opening 82. The second opening 82 and the joystick (movable operation unit) 81 are electrically and mechanically connected to a connection terminal 86 of the joystick. A connection terminal on the portable terminal 1G side is provided inside the second opening.
FIG. 9A is a diagram showing an opening for a joystick, that is, a second opening 82 in a fourth modification of the mobile phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The second opening 82 is further provided in the opening 7. FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a joystick.
In FIG. 9B, a joystick (movable operation unit) 81 includes a joystick holding unit 83, a joystick support unit 84, a joystick flat unit 85, a joystick connection terminal 86, and an electrode unit 87. The holding part 83 is integrated with the support part 84 and is operated by the user. The flat portion 85 is formed so as to wrap around the support portion 84, and smoothly operates and holds the joystick, and also converts the movement of the joystick into an electric signal and outputs it to the electrode portion 87, that is, a piezoelectric element and an elastic member, etc. It is set as the structure including. Next, the control unit of the cellular phone 1 </ b> G that has received the electrical signal from the electrode unit 87 processes the electrical signal and displays a display or instruction corresponding to the movement of the joystick 81 on the display unit 5.

  In FIG. 9A, the opening 7 is located at the upper right corner of the housing including the operation portion of the folding housing, but an arbitrary number may be provided at an arbitrary position.

In the above embodiment, the cellular phone having a folding structure has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other types of cellular phones and PDAs and other portable terminals. .

1 is a perspective view of a mobile phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2A is a partially exploded view of the mobile phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIb-IIb in FIG. 1, and FIG. It is IIc-IIc sectional drawing of B). It is a perspective view of the mobile telephone which is the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. 4A is a perspective view of a mobile phone according to a second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVb-IVb in FIG. It is a perspective view of the mobile telephone of the 3rd modification of a 1st embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing a first state of the mobile phone according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is an example of the arrangement of magnetic poles in the first state of the key operation unit. FIG. 6C is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the arrangement of the magnetic poles in the second state of the key operation unit. FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing a basic state of the mobile phone according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7B is a view showing a state where the key operation part of the mobile phone is opened to the right side. FIG. 7C is a diagram showing a state in which the key operation unit of the mobile phone is opened to the left side. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a fourth modification of the mobile phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9A is a diagram showing an opening for a joystick according to a fourth modification of the mobile phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a configuration example of the joystick.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A-1F ... Mobile phone, 3 ... Lower housing | casing, 6 ... Inner surface of lower housing | casing, 7 ... Opening part 7a ... Inner peripheral surface of opening part, 7b ... Groove part of opening part, 7c ... Inner peripheral surface of opening part 8 ... Key operation part (input part)
8a ... End face of the key operation part, 8b ... Projection, 8c ... End face of the key operation part 11 ... Touch pad 21 ... Key operation part 31 ... Key operation part, 32 ... First part of the key operation part, 33 ... Key operation part The second part 41 ... the key operating part, 42 ... the first part of the key operating part, 43 ... the second part of the key operating part 51 ... the key operating part, 52 ... the first part of the key operating part, 53 ... 2nd part of key operation part 61 ... Soft iron, 62a-62d ... Permanent magnet 71a, 71b ... Notch part 81 ... Joystick (movable operation part)
82 ... 2nd opening part (connection terminal by the side of a portable terminal)
83 ... Joystick holding part 84 ... Joystick support part 85 ... Joystick flat part 86 ... Joystick connection terminal 87 ... Electrode part

Claims (12)

A housing having an opening formed on a predetermined surface;
An input portion provided in the opening,
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is smaller in size in one direction along the predetermined plane than the opening, and is movable in the one direction in the opening. The opening has a pair of opposed inner peripheral surfaces formed along the one direction,
The input portion has an end surface formed along the one direction facing the pair of inner peripheral surfaces of the opening,
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein a groove portion is formed along the one direction on one of the opposed inner peripheral surface and the end surface, and a protrusion inserted into the groove portion is provided on the other. The mobile phone according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of concave portions are formed in the groove portion along the one direction, and the input portion is fixed when the protrusion is fitted in any one of the plurality of concave portions. Terminal machine. The mobile terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the input unit is divided into a plurality of parts, and the plurality of parts are independently movable along the one direction. Machine. The opening has a pair of opposed inner peripheral surfaces formed along the one direction,
The input unit has an end surface formed along the one direction facing the pair of inner peripheral surfaces of the opening, and is divided by an end surface formed along the one direction. Consisting of
The input portion can change the arrangement of the plurality of portions by coupling the inner peripheral surface of the opening facing the end surface of the input portion and the end surfaces of the plurality of portions facing each other by magnetic force. The mobile terminal according to claim 1. The portable terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a second input unit is provided on the back side of the input unit in the opening. The mobile terminal according to claim 6, wherein the second input unit is a touch pad. The portable terminal according to any one of claims 2 to 7, further comprising a third input unit that is operated by the contact by moving the input unit along the one direction. The mobile terminal according to claim 8, wherein a function of the input unit is changed according to an operation to the third input unit. The protrusions are provided at both ends with respect to at least the one direction in each of the end surfaces of the input portion facing the pair of opposed inner peripheral surfaces of the opening,
The groove portion is formed on each of the pair of inner peripheral surfaces of the opening, and has a notch portion for allowing the protrusion to pass through and disengage from the groove portion on the predetermined surface side,
The said input part can be rotated centering on the protrusion of the said one end by arrange | positioning the said protrusion of one end in the said groove part, and removing the said other protrusion from the said groove part from the said notch part. The mobile terminal according to claim 9. The mobile terminal according to claim 10, wherein a function of the input unit is changed by rotation of the input unit. The portable terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and 6 to 11, further comprising a second opening in part of the opening, the second opening being connectable to a joystick. Machine.

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