JP2011166531A - Electronic component - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic component which suitably controls lighting of a display section and an input section, and achieve good visibility and operability for a user while suppressing current consumption. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic component is equipped with: a display section; an input section for detecting a predetermined input operation; and a lighting control section for turning on the display section for a first lighting time and then turning it off (S12), and turning on the display section for a second lighting time longer than the first lighting time (S15, S16) when the input operation is detected before passage of a predetermined time after the display section is turned off (YES at S13). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device that suitably controls lighting states of a display unit and an input unit.

  One index for evaluating the performance of electronic devices such as mobile phones is the continuous drive time of a battery (secondary battery). Electronic devices are required to suppress current consumption as much as possible in order to increase the continuous drive time.

  Conventionally, a technique for suitably controlling a lighting state in order to suppress current consumption of a display, an operation key, a touch panel, or the like is known (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In these techniques, if there is no user operation such as key input for a certain time, the backlight illumination of the display is turned off or turned off. At this time, the electronic device is turned on again when a user operation is performed again in a lighted or lighted state.

JP 2003-163742 A JP 2003-298684 A

  Here, depending on the application, in order to avoid the display from being turned off during browsing, there is a case where the lighted state is always maintained. For example, an application that displays an image, a moving image, an electronic book, or the like is applicable. Thereby, a user's visibility and operativity can be improved and the user can browse continuously the content displayed on the display. However, application to all applications is not preferable from the viewpoint of reducing the current consumption.

  On the other hand, if the lighting control is performed so that the display is turned off after a certain period of time and then returned to the lighting state by a subsequent user operation, the user operation is frequently forced during long viewing, and the operability is lacking. Become.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can appropriately control lighting of the display unit and the input unit, suppress current consumption, and can provide user visibility and operability. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an electronic device according to the present invention turns on the display unit, an input unit that detects a predetermined input operation, and turns off the display unit after turning it on for a first lighting time. And a lighting control unit that turns on the display unit for a second lighting time longer than the first lighting time when the input operation is detected before the predetermined time elapses after the unit is turned off. Is.

  In addition, the electronic device according to the present invention includes an input unit that detects a predetermined input operation, and the input unit is turned on after being turned on for a first lighting time, and before the predetermined time has elapsed after the input unit is turned off. And a lighting control unit that turns on the input unit for a second lighting time longer than the first lighting time when an input operation is detected.

  The electronic device according to the present invention suitably performs lighting control of the display unit and the input unit, and can have user visibility and operability while suppressing current consumption.

1 is an external perspective view illustrating a mobile phone that is an example of an electronic apparatus according to the invention. 1 is a schematic functional block diagram showing a main functional configuration of a mobile phone which is an example of an electronic apparatus according to the invention. The flowchart explaining the lighting control process of the main display performed by the control part of the mobile telephone in this embodiment. The flowchart explaining the lighting time extension process performed by the control part of the mobile telephone in this embodiment. The flowchart explaining the lighting time setting process performed by the control part of the mobile telephone in this embodiment.

  An embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a mobile phone 1 which is an example of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention.

  FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a configuration of an external appearance of the foldable mobile phone 1 when viewed from the front when the foldable mobile phone 1 is opened at about 180 degrees. FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an appearance viewed from the front when the cellular phone 1 of FIG. 1A is in a closed state.

  In the mobile phone 1, a first casing 12 and a second casing 13 are hingedly connected with a central hinge portion 11 as a boundary. The first housing 12 and the second housing 13 are formed to be foldable in the direction of the arrow X via the hinge portion 11. A transmitting / receiving antenna (antenna 31 in FIG. 2) is provided at a predetermined position inside the mobile phone 1. The cellular phone 1 transmits and receives radio waves to and from a base station (not shown) via this built-in antenna.

  An operation key 14 is provided on the surface of the first housing 12. The operation key 14 includes a plurality of keys such as a numeric key 15, a cross key 16, and a confirmation key 17.

  The numeric key 15 is a key that can accept input of numbers “0” to “9”, “A” to “Wa”, and “A” to “Z” alphabets. The cross key 16 is operated in the up / down / left / right direction to accept an operation for moving the cursor or the like displayed on the main display 20 in the up / down / left / right direction. The confirmation key 17 is pressed to accept various processing confirmation operations.

  The operation key 14 has a light source (backlight) such as a light emitting diode on the back of the key. The operation key 14 can be identified even in a dark place when the backlight of the operation key 14 is controlled to emit light at a predetermined timing. The operation key 14 is turned on, for example, when the mobile phone 1 shifts from a closed state to an open state, or turned on when a voice call is received or an e-mail is received. In addition, when the light is on, the light is turned off when no key operation is performed by the user for a certain period of time.

  The first casing 12 is provided with a microphone 21 below the operation keys 14. The cellular phone 1 collects the user's voice during a call by the microphone 21.

  On the other hand, the second housing 13 is provided with a main display 20. The main display 20 can display a pictogram icon indicating a radio wave reception state and a remaining battery level, a current date and time, an e-mail content, a simple homepage, and the like. The main display 20 is a display configured by, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display.

  The main display 20 is controlled to be turned on or off in the same manner as the operation keys 14. For example, when the main display 20 is composed of an LCD, control of turning on and off is performed according to the control of the backlight that illuminates from the back. In the case where the main display 20 is formed of an organic EL display, for example, when a current is controlled for each element or a backlight is provided, the lighting and extinguishing are controlled according to the control of the backlight.

  A receiver (receiver) 22 is provided at a predetermined position above the main display 20 of the second housing 13. The cellular phone 1 outputs the voice of the other party at the time of the call by the receiver 22. Further, a speaker for outputting sound (speaker 36 in FIG. 3) is also provided at a predetermined position of the mobile phone 1. By using the receiver 22 and the microphone 21, the user can make a voice call.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, a sub-display 28 made of, for example, an LCD is provided on the surface of the second housing 13 opposite to the surface on which the main display 20 is provided. The sub-display 28 displays an antenna picture showing the current antenna sensitivity level, a battery picture showing the current battery level of the mobile phone 1, a current time, and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic functional block diagram showing a main functional configuration of the mobile phone 1 which is an example of the electronic apparatus according to the invention.

  The cellular phone 1 performs voice communication and data communication by a wireless communication method such as a W-CDMA method, a GSM method, a cdma2000 1x RTT method, an EVDO method, and an E-UTRA method that is a wireless access of a 3.9th generation LTE system. A communication function is provided. The antenna 31, the radio transmission / reception unit 32, and the signal processing unit 33 correspond to these methods.

  The antenna 31 receives a radio signal transmitted from a base station accommodated in a mobile communication network by using a predetermined communication processing system. The antenna 31 radiates a radio signal of a predetermined access method to the space so that wireless communication can be performed with a predetermined communication processing system.

  The radio transmission / reception unit 32 performs radio communication with a base station accommodated in the mobile communication network via the antenna 31 by a predetermined communication processing method. The radio transmission / reception unit 32 generates a radio signal having a carrier frequency instructed from the control unit 39 based on the modulation signal generated by the signal processing unit 33. The radio transmission / reception unit 32 receives a radio signal having a carrier frequency instructed from the control unit 39, mixes it with the local oscillation signal output from the frequency synthesizer, and converts the frequency into an intermediate frequency signal (down-conversion). Then, the radio transmission / reception unit 32 orthogonally demodulates the down-converted intermediate frequency signal and outputs a reception baseband signal. The reception result is output to the signal processing unit 33 and the control unit 39.

  The signal processing unit 33 is configured by a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or the like, and performs predetermined signal processing on the received baseband signal to obtain received packet data in a predetermined transmission format. The signal processing unit 33 demodulates the audio signal included in the received packet data and decodes the demodulation result to obtain audio data and the like. The audio data obtained by the decoding process is supplied to the PCM codec 34. The PCM codec 34 performs PCM decoding on the audio data and outputs an analog audio data signal after PCM decoding to the reception amplifier 35. The analog audio signal is amplified by the reception amplifier 35 and then output from the receiver 22 and the speaker 36.

  On the other hand, the voice signal (analog audio signal) of the speaker (user) input to the microphone 21 is amplified to an appropriate level by the transmission amplifier 37 and then PCM encoded by the PCM codec 34. The audio signal after PCM encoding is input to the signal processing unit 33. The signal processing unit 33 encodes the audio signal, generates a modulation signal based on audio data and other data obtained by the encoding, and outputs the generated modulation signal to the radio transmission / reception unit 32.

  The control unit 39 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The CPU executes various processes in accordance with programs stored in the ROM or various application programs and control programs including the operating system (OS) loaded from the storage unit 43 to the RAM. In addition, the CPU generates various control signals and supplies them to each unit to control the mobile phone 1 in an integrated manner. The RAM appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU to execute various processes.

  The storage unit 43 includes, for example, a flash memory element that is an electrically rewritable and erasable nonvolatile memory, an HDD (Hard Disc Drive), and the like. The storage unit 43 stores various application programs and various data groups executed by the CPU of the control unit 39, and the control program and control data of the mobile phone 1. In addition, the storage unit 43 appropriately stores, for example, telephone book data in which contact information is registered, data acquired by data communication, downloaded data, and the like.

  The power supply circuit 44 generates a predetermined operating power supply voltage Vcc based on the output of the battery 45 and supplies it to each circuit unit. The clock circuit (timer) 46 measures the current time or a certain time.

  The mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to perform a lighting control process with excellent visibility and operability for the user when the user views the content displayed on the main display 20. Hereinafter, the lighting control process of the main display 20 will be specifically described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the lighting control process of the main display 20 executed by the control unit 39 of the mobile phone 1 in the present embodiment.

  In step S1, the main display 20 is in a lighting state.

  In step S <b> 2, the control unit 39 determines whether a user operation is detected from the operation key 14. When it is determined that the user operation is detected, the control unit 39 returns to step S1 and maintains the lighting state of the main display 20. Note that the control unit 39 may determine the presence or absence of detection of an interrupt process from the outside or the inside that occurs in the mobile phone 1 even if it is not a user operation.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 39 determines that no user operation has been detected, in step S3, the control unit 39 determines whether or not a lighting time that is a time for maintaining the lighting of the main display 20 has elapsed. Do. This lighting time is a changeable value set in a storage area such as a RAM of the mobile phone 1. For example, a normal lighting time T (for example, 30 seconds) that is a value set in advance in the mobile phone 1 or a value arbitrarily set by the user is used as the lighting time, for example, in a normal time (other than a lighting extension described later). Further, when a lighting time extension process and a lighting time setting process described later are performed, the extended lighting time Te or the normal lighting time T set in each process or the like is used.

  When it is determined that the lighting time has not elapsed, the control unit 39 returns to step S <b> 1 and maintains the lighting state of the main display 20.

  On the other hand, when determining that the set lighting time has elapsed, the control unit 39 causes the main display 20 to transition to the extinguished state in step S4.

  Next, a lighting time extension process executed after the main display 20 is turned off will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining lighting time extension processing executed by the control unit 39 of the mobile phone 1 in the present embodiment.

  In step S11, the main display 20 is in an extinguished state.

  In step S <b> 12, the control unit 39 determines whether a user operation is detected from the operation key 14. When the control unit 39 determines that no user operation has been detected, the control unit 39 returns to step S11 and maintains the main display 20 off.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the user operation is detected, the control unit 39 determines in step S13 whether the user operation is detected within the lighting determination time Td after the main display 20 transitions to the unlit state. The lighting determination time Td is set to a value (for example, 1 second) that can determine whether or not the user has intended to turn off the main display 20. That is, when the user operation is performed within the lighting determination time Td after the main display 20 is turned off, the control unit 39 continues to view the content displayed on the main display 20 immediately before and is turned on again. It is assumed that a user operation was performed with the intention of On the other hand, when the user operation is performed after the lighting determination time Td after the main display 20 is turned off, the control unit 39 performs an operation unrelated to the operation for the content displayed on the immediately preceding main display 20. Consider it done.

  The lighting determination time Td may be a fixed value set in advance in the mobile phone 1 or may be a value arbitrarily set by the user.

  When determining that the user operation is detected after the lighting determination time Td has elapsed, the control unit 39 sets the lighting time to the normal lighting time T in step S14. Here, the lighting time is set to the normal lighting time T. However, the lighting time is not limited to this, and the lighting time set when the user operation is performed after the lighting determination time Td has passed is maintained as it is. May be.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the user operation is detected within the lighting determination time Td, the control unit 39 sets the lighting time to the extended lighting time Te in step S15. Here, the extension lighting time Te can be set to any value as long as it is longer than the normal lighting time T. For example, the extended lighting time Te is a value obtained by adding a predetermined time Ta (for example, 5 seconds) to the normal lighting time T as (normal lighting time T + predetermined time Ta). When the lighting time extension process is repeated, the extended lighting time Te is added to the normal lighting time T by multiplying the predetermined time Ta by the number n of times the processing is repeated, such as (normal lighting time T + Ta × n). It is good also as a value obtained by doing. Alternatively, a value arbitrarily set by the user may be applied to the lighting extension time Te.

  In step S16, the control unit 39 causes the main display 20 to transition to the lighting state. When the lighting time extension process ends, the process returns to the user operation detection step S2 of the lighting control process (FIG. 3) again, and the subsequent processes are repeated. When the lighting time is set to the extended lighting time Te, the extended lighting time Te is used as the lighting time used for determination in the progress determination step S3.

  According to the mobile phone 1, the lighting time can be extended without requiring an explicit operation by performing the lighting time extension process after the main display 20 is turned off by the lighting control process. That is, the cellular phone excellent in the visibility of the main display 20 and the operability for extending the lighting time can suitably reflect the intention of the user who has extended the lighting time by key operation due to insufficient lighting time. 1 can be realized.

  In addition, since the mobile phone 1 extends the lighting time and does not turn on unnecessarily for a long time only when there is a user operation within the lighting determination time Td, an increase in current consumption can be suppressed.

  Here, a plurality of applications are executed in the mobile phone 1. For example, various applications such as a standby application, an e-mail application, an image, and a moving image browsing application are executed. Further, the operation (such as key input) and time when the user browses the main display 20 also vary depending on the type of application.

  The mobile phone 1 can realize reduction of current consumption in addition to improvement of visibility and operability by setting a lighting time suitable for each application.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the lighting time setting process executed by the control unit 39 of the mobile phone 1 in the present embodiment.

  In step S21, the control unit 39 determines whether or not the currently set lighting time is the extended lighting time Te. When it is determined that the normal lighting time T is set instead of the extended lighting time Te, the control unit 39 ends the process.

  On the other hand, when determining that the extended lighting time Te is set, the control unit 39 determines whether or not the currently activated application is switched to another application in step S22. The control unit 39 uses, for example, a so-called multitask function for executing whether or not a running application (for example, an e-mail application) is terminated and another application (for example, a standby application) is activated or a plurality of applications are switched. It is determined whether or not another application is executed in the foreground instead of the active application.

  When it is determined that the application has not been switched, the control unit 39 returns to step S21 and repeats the subsequent processing.

  On the other hand, when determining that the application has been switched, the control unit 39 sets the lighting time set as the extended lighting time Te to the normal lighting time T in step S23. That is, the control unit 39 ends the extension of the lighting time and executes the lighting control process using the normal lighting time T shown in FIG.

  According to the cellular phone 1, when an application other than the application to which the extended lighting time Te is applied is activated, the lighting control of the main display 20 can be performed finely for each application by applying the normal lighting time T. it can.

  In addition, by switching the lighting time for each application, the lighting time is extended without explicit operation for applications that require the lighting time to be extended, while the normal lighting time is used for other applications. It is possible to avoid the complexity of setting the lighting time for each, and to suppress an increase in unnecessary current consumption.

  For an application in which the extended lighting time Te is used as the lighting time, the lighting control process may be performed using the extended lighting time Te at the next activation. This is because an application in which the user has extended the lighting time is considered to be short in the normal lighting time, and thus the intention of the user can be more reflected by applying the extended lighting time.

  The above-described processes in FIGS. 3 to 5 have been described by applying only to lighting of the main display 20. However, not only the main display 20 but also the lighting control of the backlight of the operation keys 14 and the lighting of the sub-display 28 are described. You may apply to control. The lighting control of the main display 20 and the like includes not only the control between the lighting state and the lighting state but also the control to shift to the lighting state after passing through a low light state (in a plurality of stages) having a lower luminance than the lighting state.

  In addition, the mobile phone 1 according to the present embodiment applies an example in which a display and an operation key are individually provided on the display unit and the input unit, but applies a touch panel in which the display unit and the input unit are integrally formed. Alternatively, an operation key constituted by a touch center may be applied.

  The electronic device according to the present invention can be applied not only to the mobile phone 1 but also to, for example, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a personal computer, a portable game machine, a portable music player, a portable video player, and other electronic devices. .

  The series of processes described in the embodiments of the present invention can be executed by software, but can also be executed by hardware.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the steps of the flowchart show the processing examples performed in time series in the order described, but they are not necessarily processed in time series but are executed in parallel or individually. It also includes the processing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile telephone 11 Hinge part 12 1st housing | casing 13 2nd housing | casing 14 Operation key 20 Main display 21 Microphone 22 Receiver (handset)
28 Sub display 31 Antenna 32 Wireless transmission / reception unit 33 Signal processing unit 34 PCM codec 35 Reception amplifier 36 Speaker 37 Transmission amplifier 39 Control unit 43 Storage unit 44 Power supply circuit 45 Battery 46 Clock circuit (timer)

Claims (6)

A display unit;
An input unit for detecting a predetermined input operation;
The display unit is turned on after being turned on for a first lighting time, and when the input operation is detected before the predetermined time elapses after the display unit is turned off, the display unit is turned on for a longer time than the first lighting time. An electronic device comprising: a lighting control unit that turns on for a second lighting time. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting control unit lights the display unit for the first lighting time when the input operation is detected after a predetermined time has elapsed after the display unit is turned off. The lighting control unit turns on the display unit for the first lighting time when the application to which the second lighting is applied is switched to another application for the lighting time of the display unit. 2. The electronic device according to 2. The lighting control unit applies the second lighting time even at the next activation of the application in which the second lighting time is applied to the lighting time of the display unit. The electronic device as described in. The input unit is configured to be lit,
The said lighting control part is an electronic device as described in any one of Claims 1-4 which controls lighting of the said input part with the said display part. An input unit for detecting a predetermined input operation;
When the input operation is detected before the predetermined time has elapsed after the input unit is turned off after being turned on for the first lighting time, the input unit is set to be longer than the first lighting time. An electronic device comprising: a lighting control unit that turns on for a second lighting time.

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