JP2010109453A - Mobile terminal and ground connecting method of mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent antenna characteristics from being deteriorated even if the physical state of a mobile terminal is changed. <P>SOLUTION: The mobile terminal can be changed in a physical state, and includes a connection circuit which connects a metallic body mounted to the mobile terminal to the ground, and a connection determination means of determining whether the metallic body is connected to the ground when a change in the physical state is detected, and outputting a control signal to the connection circuit when it is determined that the metallic body is connected to the ground. The connection circuit connects the metallic body to the ground on the basis of the control signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a ground connection method of the mobile terminal.

  A portable terminal such as a cellular phone has an antenna, and metal objects such as various metal casings and parts mounted around the antenna may greatly affect the characteristics of the antenna. . For example, the antenna gain (gain) is often significantly degraded by the physical configuration of the mounted metal object. In addition, recently, mobile phones that can be turned into an open state and a closed state and a mobile phone that can be rotated 90 degrees, and a mobile phone that can rotate the housing on the liquid crystal display unit side have also appeared. Changes in the structural state of mobile terminals are diversifying. As described above, when the state of the mobile terminal changes variously, the positional relationship between the metal object mounted on the mobile terminal and the antenna changes, and a situation in which the characteristics of the antenna are greatly degraded occurs.

  Further, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a related technique related to preventing deterioration of antenna characteristics. Patent Document 1 describes that in a foldable portable wireless device, the electrical connection between a conductor plate incorporated in an upper housing and a hinge bracket is switched between being connected or released by a high-frequency switch controlled by a Hall element. Has been.

JP 2005-341101 A (paragraphs 0021 to 0027)

  In the foldable portable wireless device described in Patent Document 1, high antenna performance is ensured by operating the high-frequency switch to make the hinge part, conductor plate, and circuit board mounted on the portable wireless device function as a dipole antenna. can do. However, it specializes in securing high antenna performance, and does not ground the circuit board and various components mounted on the portable radio to the ground in response to changes in the physical state of the portable radio. It is not always possible to prevent it.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal capable of preventing deterioration of antenna characteristics even when the physical state of the mobile terminal changes, and a ground connection method of the mobile terminal.

  The portable terminal according to the present invention is a portable terminal whose physical state can be changed, a connection circuit for connecting a metal object mounted on the portable terminal to the ground, and a metal object when a change in the physical state is detected. And a connection determination means for outputting a control signal to the connection circuit when it is determined that the metal object is to be connected to the ground. The connection circuit is based on the control signal. The metal object is connected to the ground.

  A ground connection method for a mobile terminal according to the present invention is a ground connection method for a mobile terminal in which a physical state can be changed. When a change in the physical state is detected, a metal object mounted on the mobile terminal is connected to the ground. A connection determination step for determining whether or not a connection signal includes a control signal output step for outputting a control signal to a connection circuit for connecting the metal object to the ground when it is determined to connect the metal object to the ground; And connecting the metal object to the ground based on the control signal.

  According to the present invention, a metal object mounted on a mobile terminal can be connected to the ground according to the physical state of the mobile terminal, and deterioration of antenna characteristics can be prevented even if the physical state of the mobile terminal changes. Can do.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the structure of the mobile terminal according to the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, a case where the mobile terminal is a slide type mobile phone will be described. Note that the mobile terminal is not limited to a slide-type mobile phone, and may be, for example, a foldable mobile phone as long as it has a structure in which a physical state such as an open / close state changes. Further, the mobile terminal is not limited to the mobile phone, and may be, for example, a PDA or a PHS terminal.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure in a state in which a slide type mobile phone is opened. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure in a state in which the slide type mobile phone is closed. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slide-type mobile phone includes a display-side casing 1, a key operation-side casing 2, a slide fitting 3, a key operation section 4, a display section 5, a circuit board 6, a connection fitting 7, A circuit board 8 and an antenna 9 are included.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the display-side housing 1 and the key operation-side housing 2 are connected by a slide fitting 3. The display-side housing 1 is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the key operation-side housing 2 by sliding the display-side housing 1 side with respect to the slide fitting 3.

  The key operation side housing 2 includes a circuit board 6 on which various circuit components are mounted and provided with connection terminals (a connection terminal 10 to be described later). In the key operation side housing 2, connection terminals provided on the circuit board 6 are connected to the slide metal fitting 3 via the connection metal fitting 7.

  The connection terminals provided on the circuit board 6 are connected to a circuit (hereinafter referred to as a ground connection circuit) for connecting to a ground (hereinafter referred to as a board ground) provided on the circuit board 6. And based on the input of the control signal output when detecting the open / closed state of the mobile phone, the connection terminal of the circuit board 6 is connected to the board ground by the ground connection circuit.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a slide type mobile phone. For example, the slide type mobile phone is equipped with a control circuit for performing control to connect a connection terminal provided on the circuit board 6 to the board ground. The control circuit includes a control unit 21 and a ground connection setting information storage unit 22. In the present embodiment, with the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the circuit board 6 is connected via the connection fitting 7 between the state in which the mobile phone as shown in FIG. 1 is opened and the state in which the mobile phone shown in FIG. Control is performed so as to electrically realize the connection between the substrate ground and the slide fitting 3.

  In the present embodiment, a known open / close detection method is used as the open / closed state detection method of the mobile phone. For example, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the mobile phone is equipped with an open / close detection switch 20 that detects the open / closed state of the display-side housing 1 and the key operation-side housing 2. The open / close detection switch 20 has a function of outputting a detection signal indicating that the open state is detected, for example, when detecting that the display side case 1 is opened with respect to the key operation side case 2.

  When the control unit 21 receives the detection signal from the open / close detection switch 20, the control unit 21 determines whether to connect the connection terminal of the circuit board 6 to the substrate ground based on the ground connection setting information stored in the ground connection setting information storage unit 22. It has a function to determine. When the control unit 21 determines that the connection terminal of the circuit board 6 is connected to the substrate ground, the control unit 21 has a function of outputting a control signal for connecting the connection terminal of the circuit board 6 to the substrate ground to the ground connection circuit 23. Prepare. The control unit 21 may be realized by a CPU of a mobile phone that operates according to a program, for example.

  The ground connection setting information storage unit 22 stores ground connection setting information that is setting information as to whether or not to connect the connection terminal of the circuit board 6 to the board ground. The ground connection setting information storage unit 22 may be realized by a storage medium such as a ROM mounted on a mobile phone, for example.

  In the present embodiment, the ground connection setting information storage unit 22 controls the connection terminal of the circuit board 6 to be connected to the board ground when the mobile phone is open, and connects the circuit board 6 when the mobile phone is closed. It is assumed that ground connection setting information set so as to control the terminal to be disconnected from the substrate ground is stored.

  Note that in which state the connection or disconnection state is set (specifically, ground connection setting information) depends on, for example, the antenna characteristics when the mobile phone is opened and closed when the mobile phone is designed. Accordingly, it is preset by the designer. That is, after confirming a connection state that can maximize the antenna characteristics, a definite value (ground connection information) is set in the storage medium (ground connection setting information storage unit 22).

  FIG. 4 is a circuit configuration diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the ground connection circuit 23. The ground connection circuit 23 includes capacitors 11 and 12, a diode 13, a resistor 15, an inverter 16, and a coil 18. The ground connection circuit 23 is connected to the connection terminal 10 provided on the circuit board 6 and the board ground 14 of the circuit board 6.

  Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of control for connecting the connection terminal 10 of the circuit board 6 to the board ground 14. First, the control unit 21 of the control circuit, based on a detection signal from the open / close detection switch 20, opens or closes the mobile phone in an open / closed state (the display-side housing 1 is open or closed with respect to the key operation-side housing 2). Whether it is in a state of being (step S11). For example, when a detection signal is input from the open / close detection switch 20, the control unit 21 determines that the display-side housing 1 is open with respect to the key operation-side housing 2. For example, if the detection signal is not input from the open / close detection switch 20, the control unit 21 determines that the display-side casing 1 is closed with respect to the key operation-side casing 2.

  Next, the control unit 21 determines whether or not to connect the connection terminal 10 of the circuit board 6 to the substrate ground 14 based on the ground connection setting information stored in the ground connection setting information storage unit 22 (step S12). When it is determined that the connection terminal 10 of the circuit board 6 is connected to the board ground 14 (Y in Step S13), the control unit 21 outputs a control signal to the ground connection circuit 23 (Step S14). In the present embodiment, when the control unit 21 determines that the mobile phone is in an open state, the control unit 21 determines that the connection terminal 10 of the circuit board 6 is connected to the substrate ground 14 and outputs a control signal to the ground connection circuit 23. .

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the ground connection circuit 23, the connection terminal 10 of the circuit board 6 is connected to the board ground 14 via a diode 13. Therefore, the connection terminal 10 and the substrate ground 14 are not connected unless the current flows through the diode 13. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a configuration in which DC blocking capacitors 11 and 12 are inserted at both ends of the diode 13 and a coil 18, a resistor 15, and an inverter 16 are connected. With such a configuration, when the control signal 17 is input from the control unit 21, an alternating current flows through the diode 13, and the connection terminal 10 and the substrate ground 14 are connected.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the connection terminal 10 of the circuit board 6 is not connected to the board ground 14 (N in Step S13), the control unit 21 ends the process without proceeding to Step S14. In the present embodiment, when the control unit 21 determines that the mobile phone is in the closed state, the control unit 21 determines that the connection terminal 10 of the circuit board 6 is not connected to the substrate ground 14 and outputs a control signal to the ground connection circuit 23. do not do. For this reason, in the ground connection circuit 23, no current flows through the diode 13, and the connection terminal 10 and the substrate ground 14 are controlled to be disconnected.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the open / close state of the mobile phone is detected, and control for connecting the connection terminal 10 of the circuit board 6 to the board ground 14 is performed based on the detection result. Therefore, a metal object such as the slide fitting 3 mounted on the mobile phone can be connected to the substrate ground 14 according to the open / closed state of the mobile phone, and the antenna characteristics are degraded even if the physical state of the mobile phone changes. Can be prevented.

  For example, in a mobile phone such as a slide type in which the physical state changes, the antenna characteristics may be affected by a change in the physical state of the mobile phone, and the antenna efficiency may have to be lowered. On the other hand, in this embodiment, even when the physical state of the mobile phone is in a poor state with respect to the antenna characteristics, the connection state of the metal object mounted on the mobile phone to the substrate ground is electrically Since it can be controlled, the antenna efficiency can be improved. Therefore, communication quality can be improved even when the physical state of the mobile phone is poor with respect to the antenna characteristics.

  Next, the minimum configuration of the mobile terminal according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a minimum configuration example of the mobile terminal. As shown in FIG. 6, the mobile terminal includes a control unit 21 and a ground connection circuit 23 as minimum components.

  In the mobile terminal with the minimum configuration illustrated in FIG. 6, when the control unit 21 detects a change in the physical state of the mobile terminal, the control unit 21 determines whether to connect the metal object mounted on the mobile terminal to the ground, A function of outputting a control signal to the ground connection circuit 23 when it is determined that the metal object is connected to the ground. The ground connection circuit 23 has a function of connecting a metal object to the ground based on the control signal.

  According to the mobile terminal having the minimum configuration shown in FIG. 6, the metal object mounted on the mobile terminal can be connected to the ground according to the physical state of the mobile terminal. Can be prevented.

  In the embodiment described above, the characteristic configuration of the mobile terminal as shown in the following (1) to (6) is shown.

(1) The mobile terminal is a mobile terminal (for example, a slide-type mobile phone) whose physical state can be changed, and a metal object (for example, a slide fitting 3) mounted on the mobile terminal is grounded (for example, a substrate ground). 14) and a connection circuit (for example, ground connection circuit 23) connected to 14), and when a change in physical state is detected, it is determined whether or not the metal object is connected to the ground, and the metal object is connected to the ground. Connection determining means (for example, the control unit 21) that outputs a control signal (for example, the control signal 17) to the connection circuit, and the connection circuit grounds the metal object based on the control signal. It is made to connect to.

(2) The portable terminal includes setting information storage means (for example, ground connection setting information storage unit 22) that stores in advance setting information (for example, ground connection setting information) indicating whether or not the metal object is connected to the ground. The connection determination unit may be configured to determine whether to connect the metal object to the ground based on the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit.

(3) In the mobile terminal, the connection circuit includes a diode (for example, the diode 13) that connects the metal object and the ground, and a current flows through the diode based on the input of the control signal. Thus, the ground may be connected to the metal object.

(4) The mobile terminal includes detection means (for example, an open / close detection switch 20) that detects the open / closed state of the mobile terminal as a physical state, and the connection determination means is based on the open / closed state of the mobile terminal detected by the detection means. It may be configured to determine whether or not the metal object is connected to the ground.

(5) In the mobile terminal, when the connection determination unit determines that the mobile terminal is in an open state, the connection determination unit determines that the metal object is connected to the ground, and determines that the mobile terminal is in a closed state. When it does, you may be comprised so that it may determine not to connect a metal object to a ground.

(6) The mobile terminal can be opened and closed by sliding the first casing (for example, the display-side casing 1) relative to the second casing (for example, the key operation-side casing 2) as a physical state. In the slide type portable terminal, the connection determination unit determines whether or not to connect a slide fitting (for example, the slide fitting 3) as a metal object to the ground based on the open / closed state of the portable terminal detected by the detection unit. It may be configured to determine whether or not.

  The present invention can be applied to a portable terminal whose physical state can be changed, such as a slide type or a folding type.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the state which opened the slide type mobile telephone. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the state which closed the slide type mobile telephone. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a structure of a slide type mobile telephone. It is a circuit block diagram which shows the example of a circuit structure of a ground connection circuit. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of control which connects the connection terminal of a circuit board to a board | substrate ground. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a minimum structure of a portable terminal.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display side housing | casing 2 Key operation side housing | casing 3 Slide metal fitting 4 Key operation part 5 Display part 6 Circuit board 7 Connection metal fitting 8 Circuit board 9 Antenna 10 Connection terminal 11, 12 Capacitor 13 Diode 14 Board ground 15 Resistance 16 Inverter 17 Control Signal 18 Coil 20 Open / close detection switch 21 Control unit 22 Ground connection setting information storage unit 23 Ground connection circuit

Claims (8)

A mobile device whose physical state can change,
A connection circuit for connecting a metal object mounted on the mobile terminal to the ground;
When the change in the physical state is detected, it is determined whether or not the metal object is connected to the ground. When it is determined that the metal object is connected to the ground, a control signal is sent to the connection circuit. Connection determination means for outputting
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the connection circuit connects the metal object to the ground based on the control signal. Comprising setting information storage means for storing in advance setting information indicating whether or not to connect the metal object to the ground;
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the connection determination unit determines whether to connect the metal object to the ground based on the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit. The connection circuit is
Equipped with a diode that connects a metal object to the ground,
The portable terminal according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ground is connected to the metal object by causing a current to flow through the diode based on the input of a control signal. A detection means for detecting the open / closed state of the mobile terminal as a physical state,
The connection determination unit determines whether or not to connect the metal object to the ground based on the open / closed state of the mobile terminal detected by the detection unit. Mobile device. Connection determination means
When it is determined that the mobile device is in an open state, it is determined that the metal object is connected to the ground,
The mobile terminal according to claim 4, wherein when it is determined that the mobile terminal is in a closed state, the metal object is determined not to be connected to the ground. A slide-type portable terminal that can be opened and closed by sliding the first casing relative to the second casing as a physical state,
The portable terminal according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the connection determining means determines whether or not to connect the slide fitting as a metal object to the ground based on the open / closed state of the portable terminal detected by the detecting means. A portable terminal ground connection method capable of changing a physical state,
A connection determination step of determining whether to connect a metal object mounted on the mobile terminal to the ground when detecting a change in the physical state;
A control signal output step for outputting a control signal to a connection circuit for connecting the metal object to the ground when it is determined that the metal object is connected to the ground;
The connection circuit includes a step of connecting the metal object to the ground based on the control signal. A ground connection method for a mobile terminal. Setting information indicating whether or not to connect the metal object to the ground is stored in advance in the setting information storage means,
The ground connection method of the portable terminal according to claim 7, wherein in the connection determination step, it is determined whether or not the metal object is connected to the ground based on the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit.

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