JP2010239530A - Calling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a calling device which can be used without considering the positions of a receiving side and a transmitting side. <P>SOLUTION: A first speaker and a second microphone are built in an A-area side and a second speaker and a first microphone are built in a B-area side. When an ear is detected by a first electrostatic sensor disposed in the A-area, the A-area side is set to a receiving side, and the B-area side is set to a transmitting side. Besides, when an ear is detected by a second electrostatic sensor disposed in a B-area, the B-area side is set to the receiving side and the A-area side is set to the transmitting side. Regardless of whether the A-area side and the B-area side are put to the mouth or the ear, the calling device is available. Thus, the device can be used without considering the positions of the receiving side and the transmitting side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a call device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a communication device is known in which a speaker is provided on the upper side of an operation surface facing the user's face and a microphone is provided on the lower side. With respect to this type of communication device, Patent Document 1 discloses a mobile phone 1 in which a speaker 6 is provided on the upper side of the upper housing 2 and two microphones 8a and 8b are provided in parallel on the lower side of the lower housing 4. Has been.

JP2008-227775A

  However, in the communication device including the above-described mobile phone 1 and having a speaker on the upper side of the operation surface and a microphone on the lower side, particularly when the upper and lower designs are symmetric or when used in the dark, It is difficult to identify which side is the upper side (speaker side, receiving side) and which side is the lower side (microphone side, transmitting side), and the call may start in an upside down state. It was.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a call device that can make a call without worrying about the direction between the receiving side and the transmitting side.

  In order to achieve this object, the communication device of the present invention includes an operation surface directed toward the user's face, first sound emitting means for emitting sound from one end of the operation surface, First sound collecting means for collecting sound from the other end side, second sound collecting means for collecting sound from one end side of the operation surface, and from the other end side of the operation surface A second sound emitting means for emitting sound; a detection means for detecting whether a detection target approaches or contacts the detection area with one end side or the other end side of the operation surface as a detection area; and the detection means A setting means for setting the first sound emitting means and the second sound collecting means to be effective or setting the second sound emitting means and the second sound collecting means to be effective according to a detected result to be detected; It has.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, for example, when it is detected that one end side of the operation surface is a detection area and the detection target approaches or contacts the detection area, the one end side is the reception side and the other end When the first sound emitting means and the second sound collecting means are set to be effective so that the side becomes the transmitting side, and the detection target is not detected on one end side, the other end side is the receiving side, and one end side is the transmitting side Thus, the second sound emitting means and the second sound collecting means are set to be effective. As a result, there is an effect that a call can be made without worrying about the direction between the receiving side and the transmitting side. This is particularly effective when it is difficult to recognize which side is the receiving side and which side is the sending side, such as when the design of the operating surface is the top and bottom targets, or when it is used in the dark. It is.

  According to the communication device according to claim 2, in addition to the effect produced by the communication device according to claim 1, the ear is detected, and the ear detection side is set as the reception side, whereby the reception side and the transmission side There is an effect that can be set correctly.

  According to the communication device of the third aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the communication device of the second aspect, even when the ear is not detected, generally, the detection pattern on the reception side is larger than that on the transmission side. By setting the larger detection pattern as the receiving side, there is an effect that the receiving side and the transmitting side can be set correctly.

  According to the communication device according to claim 4, in addition to the effect of the communication device according to claim 3, for example, by informing the user of the information “Please make a call with the ear firmly attached”, the receiving side There is an effect that the transmitting side can be set correctly.

  According to the communication device according to claim 5, in addition to the effect of the communication device according to claim 2, for example, by informing the user of the information “Please make a call with your ear firmly attached”, the receiving side There is an effect that the transmitting side can be set correctly.

  According to the communication device of the sixth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the communication device according to the second aspect, even when the ear is not detected, a detection pattern having a predetermined size or more is generally detected by the reception side. Therefore, by setting such a detection area as the receiving side, there is an effect that the receiving side and the transmitting side can be set correctly.

  According to the communication device of the seventh aspect, in addition to the effect achieved by the communication device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, since the posture for holding the communication device changes during a call, it is repeated during the call. By performing the detection, there is an effect that a call can be made even if the receiving side and the transmitting side are reversed during the call.

(A) is an external perspective view of a mobile phone, and (b) is an external front view of the mobile phone. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a mobile telephone It is a flowchart which shows a receiving side / transmission side switching process.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a mobile phone 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is an external front view of the mobile phone 1. The mobile phone 1 is a device capable of making a call with a counterpart device connected via a telephone line network, and in particular, can make a call without worrying about the direction between the receiving side and the transmitting side. .

  The casing of the mobile phone 1 is formed in a flat box shape, and one side surface thereof is configured as an operation surface 1a facing the user's face side. The operation surface 1a is provided with an LCD 2 at the center thereof, the first hole 3 on one end side (upper side in the figure), and the other end side (lower side in the figure) sandwiching the LCD 2 between the first hole 3. A second hole 4 is formed. The operation surface 1 a including the LCD 2, the first hole 3, and the second hole 4 is designed for vertical and horizontal targets.

  The LCD 2 displays various images, and as the various images, for example, numeric buttons “0” to “9”, a power button, a call button, a call button, and the like are displayed. Further, a touch panel 5 which is a kind of input device is disposed on the display surface of the LCD 2. When the image displayed on the LCD 2 is touched with a finger by the user, each process corresponding to the image displayed at that position is executed.

  The first hole 3 is a hole that emits or collects sound. Inside the mobile phone 1, a first speaker 6a that is a speaker that emits sound toward the first hole 3 (see FIG. 2). And a second microphone 7a (see FIG. 2), which is a microphone that collects sound from the first hole 3, is incorporated.

  The second hole 4 is a hole that emits or collects sound. Inside the mobile phone 1, a second speaker 6b that is a speaker that emits sound toward the second hole 4 (see FIG. 2). And a first microphone 7b (see FIG. 2) that is a microphone that collects sound from the first hole 4 is incorporated.

  A first electrostatic sensor 8 (see FIG. 2) is disposed in a predetermined region (hereinafter referred to as “A region”) on one end side of the operation surface 1 a including the first hole 3, and includes the second hole 4. A second electrostatic sensor 9 (see FIG. 2) is disposed in a predetermined region (hereinafter referred to as “B region”) on the other end side of the operation surface 1a.

  The first electrostatic sensor 8 is a sensor for detecting whether the detection target has approached (or contacted) the B area, and the second electrostatic sensor 9 is a sensor for detecting whether the detection target has approached (or contacted) the B area. An electrode pattern that divides the region is arranged, and a change in electrostatic capacitance between the electrode pattern and the detection target is used to detect whether the detection target approaches (or contacts) the A region and the B region.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the user holds the mobile phone 1 and brings the right ear close to (or touches) the area A, the detection pattern E1 is detected by the first electrostatic sensor 8, and B When the right ear approaches (or comes into contact with) the area, the detection pattern E2 is detected by the second electrostatic sensor 9.

  On the other hand, as will be described later, the mobile phone 1 stores one or more ear patterns when the right ear or the left ear approaches (or contacts) each region of the A region and the B region. By comparing this ear pattern with the detection pattern actually detected by the first and second electrostatic sensors 8 and 9, it is detected whether the ear has approached (or contacted) the A region or the B region. can do.

  When it is detected that the ear has approached (or contacted) the area A, the first speaker 6a and the first microphone 7b are activated, and one end side (the upper side in the figure) of the operation surface 1a is set to the receiving side and the other end. The side (lower side in the figure) is set as the transmitting side. In the present embodiment, enabling the first speaker 6a and the first microphone 7b disables the second speaker 6b and the second microphone 7a and emits sound only from the first speaker 6a. In this case, sound is collected only from the first microphone 7b.

  On the other hand, when it is detected that the ear has approached (or contacted) the region B, the second speaker 6b and the second microphone 7a are activated, and one end side (upper side in the figure) of the operation surface 1a is set to the transmitting side and others. The end side (lower side in the figure) is set as the receiving side. Thereby, the user who uses the mobile phone 1 can talk without worrying about the direction of the receiving side and the transmitting side. In the present embodiment, enabling the second speaker 6b and the second microphone 7a disables the first speaker 6a and the first microphone 7b and emits sound only from the second speaker 6b. In this case, sound is collected only from the second microphone 7a.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the mobile phone 1. The mobile phone 1 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a display control unit 14, a touch detection unit 15, an NCU 16, a modem 10, an electrostatic sensor detection unit 17, a first audio signal control unit 18, a second audio signal control unit 19, Three speakers 20 are connected to each other via an input / output port 21.

  The CPU 11 controls each function of the cellular phone 1 according to fixed values and programs stored in the ROM 12 and the RAM 13 or various signals transmitted and received via the NCU 16 and controls each unit connected to the input / output port. It is something to control.

  The ROM 12 is a non-rewritable memory storing a control program executed by the mobile phone 1, and an ear pattern memory 12a is assigned to the ROM 12.

  The ear pattern memory 12a stores a user's ear pattern. That is, as an initial setting, when the user brings the right ear or the left ear close to (or touches) each of the areas A and B, detection detected by the first and second electrostatic sensors 8 and 9 The pattern is stored as the user's ear pattern.

  The RAM 13 is a rewritable volatile memory, and is a memory for temporarily storing various data when each operation of the mobile phone 1 is executed, and stores a default flag 13a and an A area flag 13b. .

  The default flag 13a is a flag that is set to “ON” when the first speaker 6a and the first microphone 7b are set to be valid. The A region flag 13b is a flag that is set to ON when the first electrostatic sensor 8 detects that some detection target approaches (or contacts) the A region.

  The NCU 16 is connected to the telephone line network 100, and controls the transmission of dial signals to the telephone line network 100 and the response of call signals from the telephone line network 100, and is connected to the modem 10. Yes.

  The electrostatic sensor detection unit 17 is connected to the first electrostatic sensor 8 and the second electrostatic sensor 9, and based on the signals output from the first electrostatic sensor 8 and the second electrostatic sensor 9, A An area detection pattern and an area B detection pattern are detected.

  The first audio signal control unit 18 is connected to the first speaker 6 a and the second speaker 6 b via the switching unit 22, and D / A converts the audio signal input from the input / output port 21. The converted audio signal is emitted from the first speaker 6a or the second speaker 6b by the switching unit 22.

  The switching unit 22 is a relay circuit that switches whether the audio signal output from the first audio signal control unit 18 is output to the first speaker 6a or the second speaker 6b, and is input via the bus line 22a. It is connected to the output port 21 and controlled by a control signal input from the input / output port 21 via the bus line 22a.

  The second audio signal control unit 19 is connected to the first microphone 7b and the second microphone 7a via the switching unit 23, and receives an audio signal input from the first microphone 7a or the second microphone 7b. A / D conversion is performed.

  The switching unit 23 is a relay circuit that switches whether the audio signal from the first microphone 7a or the second microphone 7b is input to the second audio signal control unit 19, and the input / output port 21 via the bus line 23a. And is controlled by a control signal input from the input / output port 21 via the bus line 23a.

  The third speaker 20 is installed on the side surface facing the operation surface 1a (see FIG. 1), and emits predetermined information.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the receiving side / sending side switching process. This process is a process of switching the receiving side / sending side of the mobile phone 1 depending on whether the user has approached (or touched) the ear to the A area or the B area. Or, it is executed when a call is made from the mobile phone 1.

  In this process, first, an initialization process is performed (S301). Specifically, the default flag 13a is set to “ON”, the A area side is set to the receiving side, and the B area side is set to the transmitting side. Also, the A area flag is set to “OFF”.

  After that, it waits until the line is closed (S302: No), and when the line is closed (S302: Yes), a detection pattern detected in each of the areas A and B is acquired. (S303).

  Then, it is determined whether a detection pattern is detected in the A area (S304). If detected (S304: Yes), the A area flag is set to “ON” (S305), The ear pattern stored in the ear pattern memory 12a is compared with the ear pattern (S306), and it is determined whether the detection pattern in the area A is an ear pattern (S307).

  If the detection pattern of the A area is an ear pattern (S307: Yes), the A area side is set as the receiving side, and the B area side is set as the transmitting side. That is, it is determined whether the default flag 13a is “ON” (S308). If it is “ON” (S308: Yes), the A area side is set as the receiving side and the B area side is set as the transmitting side. Transition to processing.

  On the other hand, if the default flag is “OFF” (S308: No), the switching units 22 and 23 are controlled to enable the first speaker 6a and the first microphone 7b (S308), and the default flag 13a is set to “ "ON" (S310), the process proceeds to S311.

  Thus, when it is determined that the detection pattern of the A area is the ear pattern, the A area side can be set as the receiving side and the B area side can be set as the transmitting side.

  On the other hand, when the detection pattern of the A area is not detected in the determination process of S304 (S304: No), and when the detection pattern of the A area is not the ear pattern in the determination process of S307 (S307: No), it is determined whether a detection pattern is detected in the B area (S312). If detected (S312: Yes), the detection pattern in the B area and the ear pattern stored in the ear pattern memory 12a Are compared (S313), and it is determined whether the detection pattern of the region B is an ear pattern (S314).

  If the detection pattern of the B area is an ear pattern (S314: Yes), the B area side is set as the receiving side and the A area side is set as the transmitting side. That is, it is determined whether the default flag 13a is "ON" (S315). If it is not "ON" and is "OFF" (S315: No), the B area side is already set as the receiving side and the A area side is set as the transmitting side. Therefore, the process proceeds to S311 as it is.

  On the other hand, if the default flag 13a is “ON” (S315: Yes), the switching units 22 and 23 are controlled to enable the second speaker 6b and the second microphone 7a (S316), and the default flag 13a is set. “OFF” is set (S317), and the process proceeds to S311.

  Thus, when it is determined that the detection pattern of the B area is an ear pattern, the B area side can be set as the receiving side and the A area side can be set as the transmitting side.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process of S314 that the detection pattern in the B area is not an ear pattern (S314: No), it is determined whether the A area flag 13b is “ON” (S318). If there is (S318: Yes), the detection pattern in the A area and the detection pattern in the B area are compared (S320), and it is determined whether the detection pattern in the A area is larger than the detection pattern in the B area (S321). .

  If the detection pattern of the A area is smaller than the detection pattern of the B area (S321: No), the B area side is set as the receiving side and the A area side is set as the transmitting side. That is, the above-described processes of S315, S316, and S317 are executed.

  On the other hand, if the detection pattern in the A area is larger than the detection pattern in the B area in the determination process in S321 (S321: Yes), the A area side is set as the receiving side and the B area side is set as the transmitting side. That is, the processes of S322, S323, and S324, which are the same processes as S308, S309, and S310 described above, are executed.

  Thus, when the detection patterns of the A area and the B area are neither ear patterns, the larger detection pattern can be set as the reception side and the smaller detection pattern can be set as the transmission side. In general, since the detection pattern on the receiving side is larger than that on the transmitting side, the receiving side and the transmitting side can be set correctly by setting the larger detection pattern as the receiving side.

  In the determination process of S312, when the detection pattern of the B area is not detected (S312: No), in other words, when the detection pattern is not detected in the A area and the B area, If the detection pattern is not detected and the ear pattern is not detected in the area A, but if any detection target (for example, mouth, cheek, chin, etc.) is detected, the third speaker 20 may, for example, Please announce "(S319), and the process proceeds to S311.

  Similarly, in the determination process of S318, when the A area flag 13b is not ON (S318: No), in other words, the detection pattern is not detected in the A area and is not the ear pattern in the B area, but any detection target ( For example, when a mouth, cheek, chin, etc.) are detected, the process of S319 is executed, and the process proceeds to S311. Thus, by making such an announcement, the ear can be detected correctly, and the receiving side and the transmitting side can be set correctly.

  In step S311, it is determined whether the line has been opened (S311). If the line has not been opened (S311: No), the process proceeds to S303 again. That is, since the posture of holding the cellular phone 1 changes during a call (while the line is closed), the receiving side and the sending side are reversed during the call by repeatedly performing detection during the call. Even if there is, you can talk normally. On the other hand, if it is determined in S311 that the line is open (S311: Yes), this process is terminated.

  Thus, according to this process, if the detection pattern of the A area is an ear pattern (S307: Yes), the A area side is set as the receiving side, and the B area side is set as the transmitting side. If the detection pattern of the B area is an ear pattern (S314: Yes), the B area side is set as the receiving side and the A area side is set as the transmitting side. Therefore, even when a call is made with the A region side on the ear and the B region side is on the mouth, even if the B region side is on the ear and the B region side is on the mouth, the call can be made. . Therefore, it is possible to talk without worrying about the direction of the receiving side and the transmitting side. In particular, it is difficult to recognize which side is the receiving side and which side is the transmitting side, such as when the design of the operation surface is the top / bottom and left / right targets as in the mobile phone 1 or when using in the dark. It is effective when

  Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be easily made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Can be inferred.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the first electrostatic sensor 8 is arranged in the A region and the second electrostatic sensor 9 is arranged in the B region has been described. However, the second electrostatic sensor 9 is not arranged in the B region, and the A region is arranged. Only the first electrostatic sensor 8 may be arranged, or only the second electrostatic sensor 9 may be arranged in the B area without arranging the first electrostatic sensor 8 in the A area. In such a case, for example, it is determined whether the detection pattern detected in one area is an ear pattern, and if detected, one area side is set as the receiving side and the other side is set as the transmitting side. If a detection pattern is not detected in this area, one area may be set as the transmitting side and the other as the receiving side.

  Also, when an electrostatic sensor is placed in only one area, a detection pattern is detected from one area, but if the detection pattern is not an ear pattern, it is determined whether the detection pattern is a predetermined size or more. However, if the size is equal to or larger than a predetermined size, it may be assumed that it is an ear, and one area side is set as a reception side and the other side is set as a transmission side.

  Further, the size of the first and second electrostatic sensors 8 and 9 is not limited to the size shown in FIG. 1. For example, the size is 1/3 of the whole from one end and the whole from the other end. The first and second electrostatic sensors 8 and 9 may be arranged in the region of 1/3 of the first. In such a case, the detectable range is widened, and more accurate ear detection can be performed.

  In the present embodiment, the mobile phone 1 has been described as the call device of the present invention. However, the call device of the present invention is not limited to the mobile phone 1 and may be a fixed phone, a slave unit, or the like.

1 Mobile phone (an example of a telephone device)
1a Operation surface 6a First speaker (an example of first sound emitting means)
6b Second speaker (an example of second sound collecting means)
7a First microphone (an example of second sound emitting means)
7b First microphone (an example of first sound collecting means)
8 First electrostatic sensor (an example of detection means)
9 Second electrostatic sensor (an example of detection means)
12a Ear pattern memory (storage means)
S303 An example of an acquisition unit S307 An example of a first determination unit S308 An example of a setting unit S309 An example of a setting unit S311 An example of a busy determination unit S314 An example of a first determination unit S315 An example of a setting unit S316 An example of a setting unit S319 Example S321 Example of second determination means S322 Example of setting means S323 Example of setting means

Claims (7)

An operation surface directed toward the user's face, first sound emitting means for emitting sound from one end of the operation surface, and first sound collecting means for collecting sound from the other end of the operation surface; In a communication device equipped with
Second sound collecting means for collecting sound from one end of the operation surface;
Second sound emitting means for emitting sound from the other end of the operation surface;
Detection means for detecting whether the detection target approaches or contacts the detection area, with one end side or the other end side of the operation surface as a detection area;
Depending on the detection result detected by the detecting means, the first sound emitting means and the second sound collecting means are enabled, or the second sound emitting means and the second sound collecting means are enabled. And a setting means for performing communication. Storage means for storing an ear pattern indicating a pattern when an ear approaches or contacts the detection region;
The detection means includes
An acquisition means for acquiring a detection pattern detected when the detection target approaches or contacts the detection area;
First determination means for determining whether the detection pattern acquired by the acquisition means matches the ear pattern stored in the storage means;
The setting means effectively sets the first sound emission means or the second sound emission means for emitting sound from the detection area when the first determination means determines that both patterns match. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the first sound collecting means or the second sound collecting means corresponding to the first sound emitting means or the second sound emitting means set to be effective is set effectively. . The detection means includes
Both the one end side of the operation surface and the other end side of the operation surface are the detection area,
When both of the detection patterns are acquired by the acquisition unit and the first determination unit determines that each of the detection patterns does not match the ear pattern, the both detection patterns Second detection means for determining which detection pattern is larger,
The setting means includes
The first sound emitting means for effectively setting the first sound emitting means or the second sound emitting means for emitting sound from the detection area determined to have a large detection pattern by the second determining means, and the first sound emitting to be set to be effective 3. The call device according to claim 2, wherein the first sound collecting means or the second sound collecting means corresponding to the first sound collecting means or the second sound emitting means is effectively set.   A detection pattern cannot be acquired from both detection regions by the acquisition unit, or a detection pattern is acquired from one detection region of both detection regions by the acquisition unit, and the acquired detection pattern is the ear pattern. 4. The communication device according to claim 3, further comprising a notifying unit for notifying predetermined information when the first determining unit determines that they are inconsistent with each other.   3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a notification unit configured to notify predetermined information when the detection pattern acquired by the acquisition unit is determined to be inconsistent with the ear pattern by the first determination unit. The communication device described. When the detection pattern acquired by the acquisition unit is determined to be inconsistent with the ear pattern by the first determination unit, the detection unit acquires a predetermined size of the detection pattern acquired by the acquisition unit. A third determination means for determining whether or not
The setting means includes
When the third determining means determines that the size is equal to or larger than a predetermined size, the first sound emitting means or the second sound emitting means for emitting sound from the detection area is set to be effective, and the effective 3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the first sound collecting means or the second sound collecting means corresponding to the first sound emitting means or the second sound emitting means set to be set effectively. A means for determining whether a call is in progress is provided.
The call device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the detection unit repeatedly performs detection when the call determination unit determines that a call is in progress.

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