JP2010154188A - Mobile electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the mobile electronic apparatus which can reduce the cost by reducing the power consumption of an illumination unit which illuminates an operation key. <P>SOLUTION: The mobile electronic apparatus includes a key operation unit 6 arranged on the surface of the case, and an illumination unit 66 (10a, 10b) which is arranged at a position higher than the key operation unit 6 on the periphery thereof in order to illuminate the key operation unit 6. The case includes a first case 2 having the key operation unit 6 and a second case 3 linked with the first case 2, wherein the illumination unit 66 is arranged at the linking portion 4 of the first case 2 and the second case 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone, an electronic notebook, or a digital camera.

In recent years, various portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), electronic notebooks, and digital cameras have been proposed.
These portable electronic devices are provided with backlight keys (light emitting elements such as LEDs) to facilitate key operations by the user when used in a dark place, and the operation keys are illuminated from the inside. (For example, refer patent document 1 and patent document 2) and the thing which lights an operation key from the outside (for example, refer patent document 3) are known.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-6574 JP 2003-309039 A JP 2002-354096 PR

  However, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when the operation key is illuminated with the backlight key from the inside of the housing, it is consumed in the configuration in which the backlight key is arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of operation keys. There is a problem that the amount of electric power increases. In addition, since the backlight keys are respectively arranged inside the operation keys (inside the casing), there is a problem that the thickness of the casing is increased.

  On the other hand, as disclosed in Patent Document 3 that solves the above-described problem, for example, in a straight type mobile phone, a step is formed between the display unit and the key operation unit in order to illuminate the operation key from the outside. The thing which provided the illumination part which illuminates a key operation part in the level | step difference part is disclosed.

  In addition, in the folder type in which the display unit can be folded, a light emitting element is provided at the front end of the display unit, the illumination light emitted from the light emitting element is reflected by the reflecting surface to illuminate the key operation unit, and at the rear end of the display unit The thing of the structure which illuminates a key operation part through the light-guide member fitted is disclosed, respectively.

  However, a straight type mobile phone having an illumination part at the step part has a problem of high cost because it is composed of special operation keys that take illumination into consideration, and the folder type illuminates the key operation part. Since the illumination unit is provided at the front end or the rear end of the display unit that is separated from the operation key, there is a problem that sufficient brightness for illuminating the operation key cannot be obtained with the display unit opened.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and provides a portable electronic device that can obtain sufficient brightness to illuminate an operation key and can reduce power consumption and cost. Objective.

The portable electronic device according to the present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.
The present invention includes a key operation unit disposed on the surface of a housing, and an illumination unit that is disposed around the key operation unit and at a higher position than the key operation unit to illuminate the key operation unit. It is characterized by.
As a result, the number of illumination units can be reduced, so that not only power consumption can be reduced, but the illumination unit is not arranged inside the operation keys, so the thickness of the casing in the key operation unit can be reduced. Can be thinned.

The casing includes a first casing having the key operation unit and a second casing coupled to the first casing, and the illumination unit includes the first casing and the second casing. It is arrange | positioned at the connection part of this.
Thereby, since the illumination part is arrange | positioned in the connection part of the 1st housing | casing and 2nd housing | casing which are higher than a key operation part, a key operation part can be illuminated in a wide range with a small number of illumination parts.

Further, the illumination unit is disposed in the second casing, and is exposed to the outside of the casing when the first casing and the second casing are overlapped in the thickness direction.
As a result, the illumination unit is arranged in the second casing exposed outside the casing when the first casing and the second casing are stacked in the thickness direction. It can also be used as a flashlight to illuminate.

Further, a camera is disposed in the vicinity of the illumination unit.
Thereby, since a camera is arrange | positioned in the vicinity of the said illumination part, when a shooting distance is near, it can image | photograph, illuminating a dark place. In addition, the directionality of the camera toward the subject can be easily determined.

In addition, the case includes a first case having the key operation unit, a second case connected to the first case, and a third case connected to the second case, The illumination unit is arranged on a plurality of surfaces of the third housing that can face the key operation unit.
As a result, the illumination unit is arranged on a plurality of surfaces of the third housing that can face the key operation unit. For example, the third housing is used in various postures with respect to the key operation unit. Even in this case, the key operation unit can be illuminated by the illumination unit facing the key operation unit.

Further, the illumination unit is turned on or off according to the opening / closing operation of the casing.
Accordingly, since the illumination unit is automatically controlled so as to be turned on or off according to the opening / closing operation of the housing, it is possible to save the trouble of manually operating the illumination unit.

Further, the illumination unit is turned on in response to an operation of the key operation unit.
Thereby, since the illumination unit is turned on only when the key operation unit is operated, the power consumption can be saved.

The housing includes a communication unit, and the lighting unit is turned on when an incoming call is detected.
Accordingly, since the illumination unit is turned on when an incoming call is detected via the communication unit, it is possible not only to easily check the incoming call, but also to quickly operate the key operation unit when operating the key to reply simultaneously.

  According to the present invention, the number of illumination units can be reduced. In addition, since sufficient brightness to illuminate the operation keys is ensured, the power consumption can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. In addition, the thickness of the casing in the key operation unit can be reduced.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a portable electronic device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile phone according to a first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view showing a state in which the mobile phone is opened, and (b) is a perspective view showing a state in which the mobile phone is closed. FIG.

  The cellular phone 1 is opened and closed by connecting a first housing 2 and a second housing 3 made of, for example, a reinforced resin material so as to have a thin, substantially rectangular shape in plan view, by a hinge portion 4 serving as a connecting portion. It is called a foldable type that can be configured.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the first casing 2 has a key operation unit 6 having various operation keys 5 arranged on its surface, a microphone (not shown) on the lower end, and a speaker on the upper end. Has been. The second housing 3 includes a display unit 8 such as a liquid crystal display or an organic display that displays various information on the surface thereof.

The hinge portion 4 includes movable hinges H2 and H2 pivotally attached to a pair of fixed hinges H1 and H1 protruding from the upper end of the first housing 2 via a support shaft (not shown). It consists of and.
The movable hinges H2 and H2 project from the lower end of the second casing 3, and a pair of illumination sections are provided at the side ends of the movable hinges H2 and H2 extending in the longitudinal direction of the second casing 3. For example, LED light emitting elements 10a and 10b are arranged.

  Accordingly, when the second casing 3 is opened, the movable hinges H2 and H2 also cooperate to rotate in the same direction, so that the LED light emitting elements 10a and 10b are directed to the key operation unit 6. On the other hand, when the 2nd housing | casing 3 is closed, LED light emitting element 10a, 10b is exposed from the outer edge part of the 1st, 2nd housing | casing 2 and 3 folded mutually.

A holder R is rotatably held on a support shaft (not shown) in the middle of the fixed hinges H1 and H1, and a camera 12 is disposed on the side surface in the same direction as the LED light emitting elements 10a and 10b. .
The direction of the camera 12 can be manually rotated and a minute angle can be adjusted, and the camera 12 can be rotated in the same direction as the LED light emitting elements 10a and 10b.

The LED light emitting elements 10a and 10b can be turned on or off by operating the operation key 14 disposed on the side surface of the first housing 2, and the camera 12 can also be photographed by manual operation of an operation key (not shown). It has become.
The illumination of the LED light emitting elements 10a and 10b can be turned on or off in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the second housing 3 other than the manual operation of the operation key 14.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the electrical configuration of the mobile phone shown in FIG.
The mobile phone 1 includes a control unit 60 configured by, for example, a CPU, an IC, a memory, and the like, and a communication unit 61, an operation unit 6, and a display unit 8 are connected to the control unit 60.
The communication unit 61 includes various elements for performing wireless communication between the mobile phone 1 and an external base station. The communication unit 61 is connected to an antenna 62 for performing wireless transmission / reception. As described above, the operation unit 6 includes a plurality of operation keys 5, and the display unit 8 includes a liquid crystal display, an organic display, and the like that display various types of information.

In addition, an imaging unit 64 (camera 12), an image processing unit 63, an audio input / output unit 65, and an illumination unit 66 (LED light emitting elements 10a and 10b) are connected to the control unit 60.
The image processing unit 63 includes an IC that performs mirror image reversal processing and distortion correction processing on image data obtained by the imaging unit 64 (camera 12). Accordingly, when an incoming call is detected by the antenna 62 via the communication unit 61, the illumination unit 66 (LED light emitting elements 10a and 10b) can be automatically turned on.

  Accordingly, the cellular phone 1 can illuminate the key operation unit 6 with the LED light emitting elements 10a and 10b arranged around the key operation unit 6, so that it is inside the operation key 5 (inside the first housing 2). There is no need to arrange an LED light emitting element for illuminating the key operation unit 6. And since it becomes the structure by which LED light emitting element 10a, 10b is not arrange | positioned inside the operation key 5, the thickness of the 1st housing | casing 2 can be made thin and manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, with the first and second housings 2 and 3 opened, the LED light emitting elements 10a and 10b are directed to the key operation unit 6 at the side ends of the movable hinges H2 and H2 projecting from the upper surfaces thereof. Therefore, the key operation unit 6 can be illuminated in a wide range with a limited number of LED light emitting elements 10a and 10b. Therefore, since the number of LED light emitting elements 10a and 10b can be minimized, the power consumption can be reduced.

  Further, when the second casing 3 is closed, the LED light emitting elements 10a and 10b are exposed from the outer ends of the folded first and second casings 2 and 3, so that the LED light emitting elements 10a and 10b are darkened. It can also be used as a flashlight to illuminate a place.

  Further, by directing in the same direction as the camera 12 and the LED light emitting elements 10a and 10b, the camera 12 can be photographed while illuminating the subject.

3A and 3B are perspective views of the mobile phone according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a state in which the mobile phone is opened, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing a state in which the mobile phone is closed. FIG.
In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same component as the structure mentioned above, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The mobile phone 20 includes a first housing 22 having a key operation unit 6, a single-length second housing 24 pivotally attached to the first housing 22 via a hinge portion 4, This is referred to as a cycloid type composed of a third casing 23 that is rotatably connected in contact with the upper surface of the second casing 24.

  The third housing 23 is formed in a thin, generally rectangular shape in plan view with a display unit 8 such as a liquid crystal display or an organic display on its surface, and illuminates each side edge of the long side or the short side. LED light emitting elements 25a, 25b to 26a, 26b are arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, when the second housing 24 is opened from the state in which the second housing 24 is overlapped on the upper surface of the first housing 22 and closed, the third housing 23 becomes the second housing 24. The LED light emitting elements 25 a and 25 b disposed on the short side of the third housing 23 are directed to the key operation unit 6.

  Next, when the second housing 24 is opened, the third housing 23 is rotated at a right angle, for example, clockwise with respect to the second housing 24, and is arranged on the long side of the third housing 23. The LED light emitting elements 26 a and 26 b are directed to the key operation unit 6.

  According to the second embodiment, a plurality of side LED light emitting elements 25a, 25b, 26a, and 26b that can face the key operation unit 6 in the third housing 23 are arranged. Even when the three housings 23 are used in various postures with respect to the key operation unit 6, the key operation unit 6 can be illuminated by the LED light emitting elements 25a, 25b, 26a, and 26b facing the key operation unit 6.

FIG. 4 is a mobile phone according to the third embodiment, where (a) is a perspective view showing a state in which the mobile phone is opened, and (b) is a perspective view showing a state in which the mobile phone is closed.
In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same component as the structure mentioned above, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The mobile phone 30 is referred to as a slide type including a first casing 32 having a key operation unit 6 and a second casing 33 that is slidably held on the upper surface of the first casing 32 in the longitudinal direction. Is.

  The second casing 33 includes a display unit 8 such as a liquid crystal display that is formed in a thin rectangular shape and displays various information on the surface thereof, and a pair of LED light emitting elements 35a and 35b are provided at the rear edge of the short side. The camera 12 is also disposed in the middle part of the LED light emitting elements 35a and 35b.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the LED casing 35a, 35b is formed by sliding the second casing 33 forward so that the entire surface of the key operation unit 6 on the upper surface of the first casing 32 is exposed. Oriented to the key operation unit 6.

When the second housing 33 is slid from the state where the first housing 32 and the second housing 33 overlap (closed state) (open state), the LED light emitting elements 35a and 35b emit light, and the key operation unit 6 is illuminated.
Further, when the operation key 14 on the side edge of the first casing 32 is operated with the second casing 33 slid and the cellular phone 30 closed, the LED light emitting elements 35a and 35b emit light and are dark. Can also be used as a flashlight to illuminate.

  FIG. 5 is a mobile phone according to the fourth embodiment, wherein (a) is a perspective view of the mobile phone, and (b) is a side view of the mobile phone.

  The mobile phone 40 is referred to as a straight type configured as an integral case, and has a thin operation unit case 42 provided with the key operation unit 6 and a thickness less than that of the operation unit case 42. The display unit housing 43 is provided with a thick display unit 8, and a stepped portion 44 is formed between the display unit housing 43 and the operation unit housing 42 with a vertical wall surface.

  The step portion 44 is provided with a pair of LED light emitting elements 45 a and 45 b so as to be directed to the key operation portion 6. The LED light emitting elements 45a and 45b can be turned on or off by operating the operation key 14 provided on the side surface of the operation unit housing 42.

  FIG. 6 is a mobile phone according to the fifth embodiment, in which (a) is a perspective view showing a state in which the mobile phone is opened, and (b) is a perspective view showing a state in which the mobile phone is closed.

  The mobile phone 50 is a foldable modification that is configured to be openable and closable by connecting the first housing 52 and the second housing 53 to each other by the hinge portion 4 so as to be rotatable.

The first casing 52 is provided with a key operation unit 6 in which various operation keys 5 are arranged on the surface, and a microphone (not shown) at the lower end.
Further, on the upper surface of the rear end portion of the first housing 52, a horizontally long holder portion 54 having a vertical wall portion E <b> 1 having a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the second housing 53 is provided on the inner side. A pair of LED light emitting elements 55a and 55b are disposed on the wall E1 and are directed toward the key operation unit 6.

  As shown to Fig.6 (a), when the 2nd housing | casing 53 is opened, the key operation part 6 can be illuminated by light-emitting LED light emitting element 55a, 55b.

  6B, when the second housing 53 is closed, the leading edge E2 of the second housing 53 is formed by the holder portion 54 protruding from the rear end of the first housing 52. It is comprised so that it may face just before the vertical wall part E1.

  As described above, the cellular phones 1, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 according to the present embodiment are bright enough to be operated because they are widely illuminated by the illumination units arranged around the key operation unit. Therefore, the number of illumination units is reduced. As a result, the power consumption is reduced, so that the cost can be reduced. In addition, the thickness of the casing in the key operation unit can be reduced.

  Various shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members described in the above-described embodiments are merely examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, as a mobile phone other than the above-described form, a revolver type that rotates the second case on the surface of the first case, or a folding type that is configured in a rectangular shape, the first case and the first case on the long side. The present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which a hinge portion for connecting two housings is provided. That is, the revolver type may be configured such that the illumination unit is disposed on the side edge of the second housing, and the folding type is configured such that the illumination unit is provided on the hinge unit.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the portable electronic device which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the electrical structure of the portable electronic device which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the portable electronic device which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the portable electronic device which concerns on 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the portable electronic device which concerns on 4th embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the portable electronic device which concerns on 5th embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mobile phone (mobile electronic device), 2 ... 1st housing | casing, 3 ... 2nd housing | casing, 4 ... Hinge part (connection part), 6 ... Key operation part, 10a, 10b ... LED light emitting element (illumination part) , 12 ... Camera, 20 ... Mobile phone, 22 ... First housing, 23 ... Third housing, 24 ... Second housing, 25a, 25b, 26a, 26b ... LED light emitting element (illumination unit), 30 ... Mobile Telephone unit 32... First housing 33. Second housing 35 a and 35 b LED light emitting element (illumination unit) 40 Mobile phone 42 Operation unit housing 43 Display unit 44. -Step part, 45a, 45b ... LED light emitting element (illumination part), 50 ... mobile phone, 52 ... first housing, 53 ... second housing, 55a, 55b ... LED light emitting element, 60 ... control part, 61 ... Communication department

Claims (8)

A key operation unit arranged on the surface of the housing;
An illumination unit that is disposed around the key operation unit and higher than the key operation unit and illuminates the key operation unit;
A portable electronic device comprising: The housing includes a first housing having the key operation unit and a second housing coupled to the first housing,
The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination unit is disposed at a connection portion between the first casing and the second casing.   The said illumination part is arrange | positioned at said 2nd housing | casing, and when the said 1st housing | casing and a said 2nd housing | casing are piled up in the thickness direction, it exposes to the outer side of the said housing | casing. 2. The portable electronic device according to 2.   The portable electronic device according to claim 2, wherein a camera is disposed in the vicinity of the illumination unit. The case is composed of the first case having the key operation unit, a second case connected to the first case, and a third case connected to the second case,
The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination unit is disposed on a plurality of surfaces of the third housing that can face the key operation unit.   The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination unit is turned on or off according to an opening / closing operation of the housing.   The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination unit is turned on in response to an operation of the key operation unit.   The portable electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the casing includes a communication unit, and turns on the illumination unit when an incoming call is detected.

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